| 释义 |
verbworn, wore wɛːwɛr 1with object Have (something) on one's body as clothing, decoration, or protection. he was wearing a dark suit firemen wearing breathing apparatus Example sentencesExamples - I don't think they should go to the parade wearing suits and smart clothing because it just won't seem right at all.
- She was a fine-looking woman in her thirties, wearing a smart black dress.
- The men, wearing ski masks and dark clothing, were seen running off down Water Lane.
- She walked over to the other side of the room, wearing only her undergarments.
- I do wear mini skirts sometimes but black ones not pink ones!
- A specialist cleaning company had to send in people wearing protective clothing and breathing masks to clear what turned out to be six tonnes of waste.
- She wore the black sequined dress to her 37th birthday party at the Tate Museum.
- Crews wearing breathing apparatus spent more than seven hours extinguishing the blaze and ensuring the property was safe.
- When meeting a man for the first time, wear an item of clothing that will make it easy and fun for him to spot you.
- He was wearing a balaclava and dark clothing at the time of the incident.
- He had no protective clothing and wore only overalls.
- She was wearing a silky black dress that stopped just above her knees.
- Out of the corner of my eye, however, I can see two dark-suited men wearing shades leaning against a wall staring at me intently.
- The offenders were described only as wearing balaclavas and dark clothing.
- Mr Laing and the rest of the crew wore several layers of protective clothing, which made moving around the boat difficult.
- He is wearing a dark indigo suit, elegant in its tailoring, a fine white shirt, and a richly colored tie.
- There was a girl standing in front of a mirror wearing a long black dress.
- To finish the outfit off, she decided to wear her black rimmed glasses rather than her contacts.
- The man was wearing a dark navy suit, which fitted his body like a glove.
- Both robbers wore balaclavas, dark clothing and hooded jackets.
- Bradburne, a no-nonsense lady wearing a headscarf to protect her head from the bitter north wind, shrugs her shoulders.
- Many of the victims wore multiple layers of clothing and carried small personal items like jewelry and medication.
Synonyms be dressed in, be clothed in, have on, sport dress in, clothe oneself in, put on, don - 1.1 Habitually have on one's body or be dressed in.
although she was a widow, she didn't wear black Example sentencesExamples - Aymara men in the Altiplano region wear long cotton trousers and woolen caps with ear flaps.
- And what about the robes that priests wear? They too are long, flowing and can be used to conceal such things.
- Over 90% of North American women wear a bra, many without ever asking why.
- Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?
- 1.2 Exhibit or present (a particular facial expression or appearance)
they wear a frozen smile on their faces Example sentencesExamples - He wore the broadest of smiles as Donald was presented with the cup.
- However, his face wore an expression she knew all too well.
- He's wearing a slightly dazed expression, but looks relaxed.
- He wears such an infectious smile all the time that one finds it difficult to associate him with a subject as grim as mental health.
- All wore grave expressions, and the children appeared close to tears.
- In fact, every classical musician had reasons to wear such a smile.
- His familiar face appeared on the front page of the Brighton Argus, wearing an expression of glowering discomfort.
- Instead, you stand meekly, wearing your most hopeful expression, vainly attempting to read the seating plan upside down.
- Mr. Harken, on the other hand, still wore the same pleasant expression.
- Behind her stood Kip, hands on his hips and wearing an unusually serious expression.
- Tyler, who wore a politely puzzled expression, sat very comfortably on the couch, with one leg resting on top of the other.
- Usually he'd put a smile on his face during a meeting like this, but instead he wore a very dismal expression.
- Alice, the head nurse, wore her usual grim expression and young Lily stood at the foot of the bed with wide, expectant eyes.
- She then turned her head to look at Josh, who wore a very confused expression.
- The stern expression he wore did little to calm her already stretched nerves.
- One look at Sophia's face and the guilty expression she wore confirmed her suspicions.
- When she spoke again, she was almost whispering, and she wore a particularly vulnerable expression.
- She looked at Dylan who was wearing a slight unfamiliar facial expression.
- By the time I reached the girl Ryan was presently dancing with, Mark wore a skeptical expression on his face.
- She literally froze in mid-run, her face still wearing a fierce expression.
Synonyms have (on one's face), present, show, display, exhibit, bear give, put on, assume, form one's face into, make one's face into, compose one's face into, rearrange one's face into, ease one's face into, smooth one's face into, draw one's face into, twist one's face into, tug one's face into, pull one's face into, pinch one's face into, crease one's face into, crack one's face into, screw (up) one's face into - 1.3with object and complement or adverbial Have (one's hair or beard) at a specified length or arranged in a specified style.
the students wore their hair long Example sentencesExamples - Ann then played with Kat's hair for few minutes until it was just perfect; Kat's hair would be worn down.
- She was wearing her long raven hair down like always, with just a touch of make-up gracing her pale skin.
- Her hard-set blue eyes were serious and cool, and she wore her reddish blonde hair in tight curls.
- Milly, who had red hair which was always worn in a ponytail, and brown eyes, still had a child-like mentality.
- She wore her long blonde hair in a thick braid and her white dress swayed about her ankles as she walked to the other side of the porch.
- Amy wore her long brown hair down and a light shade of pink eyeliner.
- On a daily basis, he wears his lightly graying hair in braids, but for ceremonies he takes great care preparing his hair and traditional costume.
- Kate stepped off the plane wearing a long skirt and a cute little blouse, wearing her long blonde hair in a ponytail.
- Her honey-blond hair was worn in a shoulder-length bob and she had deep blue eyes.
- Perhaps she was a businesswoman now, who normally wore her shoulder-length hair in a tight bun.
- The girl, on the other hand, wears her glossy red hair long, tied back into a ponytail, and she had glittery black eyes.
- She wore her honey-colored hair in a ponytail, a baseball cap shielding her face from the afternoon sun.
- Katy always braided her hair and Ansley always wore hers in a ponytail.
- When it came to how Sarah's hair should be worn, there was an even greater dispute.
- I remember that Jason wore his longish blonde hair combed over to one side.
- Her hair, which was worn up, was blonde with a tint of auburn.
- I had fine hair which was worn long until it was cut when I turned sixteen.
- He was neither tall nor short with graying hair and wore a well-trimmed beard.
- She was in her sixties and wore her thinning gray hair pulled back in a loose bun with all but a few strands secured by bobby pins.
- His short, blonde hair is worn in a style that reminds you of a gush of water.
- He wore a well-trimmed gray beard and he kept his hair combed neatly.
- She wore her light brown hair up in two messy Chinese-style knots on top of her head and had secured them with shoelaces, one neon orange and one plaid.
- 1.4Nautical (of a ship) fly (a flag)
any British registered boat may wear the red ensign Example sentencesExamples - As well as being the senior ensign of the King's ships, the red ensign was also worn by merchant ships.
- The Blue Ensign worn by Government vessels usually has the badge of the department in the fly.
- She still continues to wear the Blue Ensign until her hand-over to the Navy, scheduled for September, and her commissioning is due in October.
2with object and adverbial or complement Damage, erode, or destroy by friction or use. the track has been worn down in part to bare rock shells worn smooth by the sea Example sentencesExamples - If the cartilage is damaged by injury or worn away by arthritis for example, the ends of the bones can rub together, causing pain and restricting movement.
- Anyone can make a set of runes by burning the symbols on bits of wood or painting them on stones worn smooth by water.
- Over time, however, the ocean - and heavy-footed climbers - steadily wore away the surrounding cliffs.
- The inscription plate was barely discernible, having been worn smooth by years of polishing, but a copy has now been placed on a card placed inside the lid.
- The rest of the shoreline was rock, worn smooth from the constant action of the waves.
- Whatever paint the porch rail once had has been worn away by time exposing the beautiful, smooth graininess of the wood.
- Then he noticed that the rock had been worn smooth, as if lots of people before him had also sat on it.
- I held out my hand and she passed something to me: a piece of glass, worn smooth by the water.
- The stone toe of Saint Jude, patron of impossible causes, was worn smooth by the desperate kisses of the faithful.
- A hip replacement replaces a hip joint that has been damaged or worn away, usually by arthritis or injury.
- Their great old houses overflow with rough medieval furniture, threadbare tapestries and religious relics worn smooth by the touch of generations.
- The bluff's golden sandstone has been worn down by water and wind into stunning sculptures and patterns.
- Years of natural erosion have worn away the church's stonework.
- They rose through a spiraling passage, surrounded by cool stone that had been worn smooth over the many long years of the school's existence.
- Above a small clearing the stream cascaded down a series of massive stone steps to fall into a deep, broad pool lined with raw rock worn smooth by the water.
- Rough concrete wears the tires down more quickly.
Synonyms erode, abrade, scour, scratch, scrape, rasp, rub away, rub down, grind away, fret, waste away, wash away, crumble (away), wear down corrode, eat away (at), gnaw away (at), dissolve, bite into - 2.1no object, with adverbial or complement Undergo damage, erosion, or destruction as a result of friction or use.
mountains are wearing down with each passing second the road surface had worn smooth Example sentencesExamples - The good news is that we can rebuild old loops and links on your jewelry that have worn thin and make them like new again!
- When you say that your daughter's teeth have worn down, that implies that she might be grinding her teeth, probably at night.
- The road surface had worn smooth and in places there were sunken tyres tracks that caused vehicles to shudder when they pass over them.
- The road surface has worn away.
- Parking restrictions in parts of Oxford are no longer being enforced because road markings have worn away.
- The top layer of our concrete patio has worn away.
- Continually running an older car not designed to use unleaded petrol will eventually cause the coating to wear away, causing damage to the valves and cylinder heads.
- Over the years, the tip of the exposed pole came into contact with the underground cable and the fence became electrified when insulation covering the cable wore away, he said.
- 2.2with object Form (a hole, path, etc.) by constant friction or use.
the water was forced up through holes it had worn Example sentencesExamples - We followed a path worn into the grass, past what looked like a cornfield in its most premature state.
- What is also happening as a result is that a path is being worn across the grass, which does nothing to enhance the look of the area.
- Well, it's nice compared to T-shirts and dirt-stained jeans with holes worn into the knees.
- Explaining why a formal dress-code hinders your ability to do your job should be easy enough if you're worn a hole through the knee on a pair of pants.
- Time and travelling feet have worn grooves into hillsides as much as 3m deep.
- Bryony jogged along the narrow path worn into the floor of the forest.
- Today we see him sporting a Monty Python and the Holy Grail T-shirt with a pair of baggy jeans with holes worn in the knees.
- Sure enough, the big toe sticking out of the hole she had worn in her soft leather shoes was swollen.
- Deep grooves and channels have been worn into the 600-year-old stone down the centuries.
- Then there are the holes he wore in his jackets after putting them on for thirty years, or the mismatched patches she would use to sew them up.
- It turned out that the float had been vibrating against the body of the carburettor and had worn a little hole through it.
- 2.3no object, with adverbial Withstand continued use or life in a specified way.
a carpet that seems to wear well Example sentencesExamples - In addition to containing environmentally friendly raw materials, sustainable products typically wear well.
- This carpet is less formal-looking but will wear well.
- Gears without lubrication wear badly.
- Whether you're planning to do the work yourself or get someone in, remember that gravel requires a firm, consolidated base to look good and wear well.
- A ring that is plated with platinum but is actually sterling silver is probably not a good choice not because it might wear badly but because it is really only valued based on the underlying metal, which is silver.
- I found the rugs didn't wear well either, but I love the colours, so I'm considering taking mine off the floor and hanging them too.
- These cars perform well; the slightly dowdy interiors wear well and the seat mechanisms have proved robust.
- There's a no-nonsense look about the dashboard area - the car is clearly designed here to wear well and not date.
- Our academics have won prizes for their work on Maori but it is my guess that much of their work won't wear well over time.
- So quite why the front tyres have worn badly on the inside edge I'm not sure.
- Such testosterone-laden yarns do not wear well a millennium on.
- A bespoke suit will wear well and hold its cut for years.
Synonyms last, endure, hold up, survive, bear up, keep going, carry on, prove durable, stand/withstand/resist wear, stand up to wear, do informal hang in there
3literary with object Pass (a period of time) in some activity. spinning long stories, wearing half the day 4British informal with object, usually with negative Tolerate; accept. the environmental health people wouldn't wear it Example sentencesExamples - When it comes to paying too much money for an event the Government just won't wear it.
- To replace bills with coins would save the Treasury at least $500m (£263m) a year. Yet Americans just won't wear it.
- For a start you'd have the fossil fuel interests opposing nuclear power generation, but more importantly the Australian public just wouldn't wear it I think.
Synonyms allow, permit, authorize, sanction, condone, indulge, agree to, accede to, approve of endure, put up with, bear, take, stand, support, submit to, undergo accept, swallow, tolerate, brook, countenance, admit of Scottish thole informal stick, hack, abide, stomach British informal be doing with archaic suffer
noun wɛːwɛr mass noun1with modifier or in combination Clothing suitable for a particular purpose or of a particular type. Example sentencesExamples - The programme began shortly after 8pm and featured the delegates in traditional East Indian wear and evening gowns.
- His smooth chat-up technique is hampered by an appalling taste in casual wear.
- Purchase bicycle clothing made of reflective fabrics or add reflective tape to all of your rainy-weather wear.
- And I think it's great that she is designing supercute, trendy maternity wear for your stores.
- It offers 5,000 sq ft of quality footwear, from outdoor to special occasion wear and top brands like Ecco, Van Dal, and Clarks.
- The two brands provide a series of swimwear, gym wear, underwear and accessories which are young, sporty and sexy.
- There are a lot of vibrant colours in the traditional wear.
- Patagonia has turned organic cotton and fleece made of recycled plastic into high-end outdoor wear.
- There is a big price range for maternity wear, so you should be able to find lots of stuff you can afford.
- People hurried back and forth, wrapped in cloaks or swirling capes behind them, in peasant wear or merchant finery.
- The shop not only sells a large selection of bridal wear, but also has bridal packages, beauty treatments and a range of other services all under one roof.
- This colourful handmade woollen wear come in green, red, ivory and black.
- To say that business wear has changed in the past couple of years is an understatement.
- The event will feature 50 stalls selling everything from stylish hats and designer wear to the latest kitchen implements.
- Casual wear is permitted after hours, as long as it follows the school dress code.
- For those who like to shop, Hawkshead offers outdoor wear, plenty of gift shops and some very nice pubs and cafes.
- It is a vast style improvement on beach wear and ghastly ski wear.
- Today, these outfits serve as stage costumes rather than street wear.
- Household and electrical goods and fashion wear have been the best-selling items, he said.
- The site also features the firm's specialised fabrics such as blazer cloths along with corporate wear and men's and women's wear for the retail market.
Synonyms clothes, dress, clothing, attire, garb, finery, garments, outfits, wardrobe British kit, strip informal get-up, gear, togs, clobber formal apparel literary array, raiment, habiliments - 1.1 The wearing of something or the state of being worn as clothing.
some new tops for wear in the evening Example sentencesExamples - It's a well made children's line and is cut on the big size for plenty of wear.
- I love mine, but it is pretty plain, which is perfect for everyday wear, but I would like something a different colour.
- The polycotton floral patterned sarees can be suitable for casual or formal wear.
- The gray physical-fitness uniform is no longer authorized for wear for physical training.
- She also has an own-name, off-the-peg collection suitable for occasion wear.
- She had left her hotel earlier that morning to complete a wardrobe of gowns suitable for wear in England.
- He was also slightly more Catholic than the Pope, and a black soutane with a narrow picotee edge of brilliant carmine red is the garment affected by Cardinals for everyday wear.
- And while you may not incorrectly mark me as the kind of person to own more than a few black items of clothing, I don't have many really suitable for funeral wear.
2Damage or deterioration sustained from continuous use. you need to make a deduction for wear and tear on all your belongings Example sentencesExamples - For what it is worth, this pattern does show less wear in hard use.
- Less wear and tear on the cars means fewer new car purchases.
- As a landlord you can refuse to return their deposit if they have caused damage beyond normal wear and tear.
- Most guarantees expressly exclude faults which are the result of misuse by the consumer, accidental damage or normal wear and tear.
- Doctors suspect chronic back pain is caused by a combination of normal wear and tear on the joints of the back and poor muscle control.
- Then he handed out our textbooks; I now had a math book and a history book, and the history book sustained the more wear and tear of the two.
- In osteoarthritis, the alignment of the leg changes because of wear.
- Mum will tell you that it's not a cheap business paying for uniforms especially with the added wear and tear caused by skateboarding and playing footy in the schoolyard.
- This is in order to prevent premature wear of the valve seats.
- The combination of solvents and heat is hard on fabrics and may cause as much wear as actual wearing of the garment.
- It is now starting to show signs of wear and tear.
- This testing also provides a great opportunity to inspect your well pump for wear of its moving parts as well as the electrical system.
- It has been showing the effects of wear and tear for some time.
- Always drive in the correct gear for your speed - it reduces wear and tear on the engine components and also provides improved fuel efficiency.
- Because car carpets are expensive, it makes sense to protect them from damage or regular wear and tear.
- Although ships are meant to be thoroughly checked every two years for cracks and other signs of structural wear, the inspections often do not take place.
- Also, swap positions of the wheels with the most wear with less worn wheels.
- The teeth and their pattern of wear are unlike that seen in any modern mammal so what this animal ate is something of a mystery.
- Although your body can fix itself on the fly, damage accumulates if the rate of wear and tear is greater than the rate of repair.
- It's not starting the engine that causes extra wear and tear.
Synonyms damage, wear and tear, battering, friction, erosion, attrition, corrosion, abrasion, deterioration, degeneration informal a few knocks rare detrition - 2.1 The capacity for withstanding continuous use without damage or deterioration.
the suit has about another 10 years of normal wear left in it Example sentencesExamples - Wildflower Farm also sells Eco Lawn, a blend of seven native grasses that grow well in arid conditions and are designed to withstand wear.
- Routine safety labeling must have adhesives strong enough to withstand wear, jarring and abuse.
Synonyms use, wearing, service, employment, utility, value informal mileage
Phrases Be gradually used up or become less convincing or acceptable. his patience was wearing thin the joke had started to wear thin Example sentencesExamples - This search for meaning through interior decor, however, wears thin and, while Alan is away in America where he has been head-hunted to run research for a leading textile firm, Patsy embarks on an affair back home in England.
- I thought the joke wore thin really quickly, actually.
- The truth is, however, that you can only watch a movie so many times before the appeal wears thin.
- Anyway, he was funny and fun; but then I saw him a few more times and the gag wore thin.
- Perhaps the excitement of her fantasies wore thin, and she became obsessed with the idea of confessing all, hence acquiring a thrill and notoriety of a different sort.
- Graham was more diligent, and obtained some good results but, in the end, his patience wore thin and he came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the effort.
- But having said that patience locally is wearing thin.
- We started off with the best of intentions, but the stamina wore thin as the days and nights went by.
- It wears thin though once the trivia bits begin repeating themselves.
- ‘Only then will you understand why our patience and tolerance is wearing thin,’ says a harried-looking constable.
Phrasal Verbs wear someone/something down Overcome someone or something by persistence. they wore down their opponents to win the marathon match Example sentencesExamples - Rugby league is brutally hard, especially in the early stages of a game, when space is at a premium and big men come together in a series of energy-sapping collisions, sniffing for weakness and looking to wear the opposition down.
- The stabbing was a desperate response to his behaviour, after she had been worn down by years of mistreatment.
- Sometimes we argue and he wears my patience down and my only refuge will be an insult aimed at his mother.
- While he has lost none of his charisma, the years of ridicule appear to have worn him down.
- Mr Johnston said officers had been worn down by staff reductions and the increase in workloads, as well as the imposition of pay awards below the rate of inflation.
- This last 9 months in the wilderness of soul-destroying job applications and mind-numbing temp jobs had worn me down.
- ‘Sleep deprivation, food deprivation, being made to stand up for hours would be used in the past to wear people down,’ said one former officer.
- Over the years they wore the residents down with what can only be called ‘strong-arm tactics.’
- Free calls allow scammers to spend as long as they want wearing victims down with long calls or repeatedly phoning back.
- They want to wear people down; they are counting on people like you and me to get tired, hungry.
- In a world where human beings can never know enough people, and where their close relationships are worn down by misunderstandings and separations, literature serves as an experiment in sympathy.
- This was a peace process by sloth, a two-year long round of talks about talks about talks, which finally wore the parties down to the point where they would have put their names to just about anything the Prime Minister stuck in front of them.
- Sometimes you see the bigger, heavier, stronger side wear the other team down but that didn't happen today.
- After umpteen prosecutions for failing to display a UK motor tax disc, the authorities were worn down by his dogged challenging of their authority to levy tax.
- He said his father had worn him down over years with derogatory comments and he just snapped.
- After announcing his resignation to the university's board of supervisors, he acknowledged that the conflicts with faculty members had worn him down.
- The pleading in his voice must have worn her down.
- He says continuing speculation about the company's future is wearing workers down.
- I have to admit, I pretty much just wore him down.
- He eventually wears her down with his persistence and convinces her to marry him by giving her mother and siblings a place to live when her father dies.
- The previous year had worn me down, and I was hoping that 2004 would be a lot calmer.
- I mean, I know there is no legal strategy to deliberately delay the progress of cases, or to wear people down.
- For years our youth have been exposed to less than exciting training routines and game plans which have primarily focused on keeping the ball in hand and relying on brute strength to wear the opposition down.
- It already had been a long day, and the stress had worn me down.
- Because of this, hares use their superior speed to try and escape but the superior stamina of the hounds wears the hare down to exhaustion.
- Some teachers, on the other hand, wait until their exit interview to voice concerns about conditions that have worn them down and driven them from the profession.
- The frustration of trying to do this on my own is wearing my resolve down.
- With the strength of an ox, he will run all day to wear his opponent down.
- In the final set he did not lose a single point on his serve and wore his opponent down with relentless rallying to complete the victory 6-1 in the third.
- The father said, ‘No, no, no,’ at first and refused, but finally he was worn down by the boy's persistence.
Synonyms gradually overcome, slowly diminish, slowly lessen, slowly reduce, drain, erode, wear away, exhaust, undermine, chip away at
Lose effectiveness or intensity. the effects of the drug were wearing off Example sentencesExamples - Then after a few months or years the effects start wearing off and some people end up wondering what on earth they ever saw in their partners in the first place.
- Finally, after an extended period, the positive effects of antidepressants can wear off.
- Admittedly the word carries slightly more force and shock value when uttered by a member of the fairer sex but the novelty soon wears off.
- You may attend a religious service once or twice, but the novelty soon wears off if you can't understand what's being said.
- The excitement soon wore off and they sat side by side, idly reading through magazines Alexa had bought.
- The novelty of living in a hotel suite and surrendering your personal privacy soon wears off.
- I went home and my anger soon wore off and I was sad about having had the argument.
- The more he kept moving the more he realized he still felt stiff so the injection's effect was wearing off.
- Will I be able to retain this enthusiasm for the gym or will the novelty soon wear off?
- I knew the novelty would soon wear off.
- Initially it was therapeutic for me to retell the story, but that soon wore off.
- The effect wore off quickly enough, and this time, it was Patrick who recovered first.
- Unfortunately, the hallucinatory effects of the food wore off all too soon.
- For many bloggers, the novelty soon wears off and their persistence fades.
- Even though the anaesthetic soon wore off, my lips did look slightly sore and a touch puffy - not my prettiest.
- The effect was slowly wearing off and he'd really like to eat some real food.
- So there is curiosity at first, but it soon wears off.
- The pain began in earnest a couple of days after the accident, when the numbing effects of adrenaline wore off.
- They also said the effects would wear off and disappear altogether once users stopped taking oestrogen doses.
- After the effectiveness of the vaccines wears off, the risk of actual infection returns.
Synonyms fade, dwindle, diminish, lessen, decrease, wane, ebb, subside, weaken, lose intensity, lose strength, peter out, melt away, fizzle out, pall, taper off, tail off, grow faint, grow dim, evaporate, disappear, vanish, die, come to nothing, come to a halt, come to an end, run out
(of a period of time) pass, especially slowly or tediously. as the afternoon wore on he began to look unhappy Example sentencesExamples - But as the afternoon wore on, it became increasingly obvious that the Clarets were never going to score.
- As the day wore on, we all began to realise just how privileged we were to be part of this expedition.
- Sadly, as the months wore on, Mick began to get more and more difficult.
- As time wore on, she began to suspect that maybe she was going around in circles.
- In Warsaw, the stadium scoreboard showed that the temperature was slowly but steadily dropping as the night wore on.
- But as the evening wore on I began to realise the merit in this approach.
- As the days wore on Jon was beginning to get the feeling that Scott wanted no part of anyone anymore.
- As the day wore on the tranquillity of the afternoon is remembered as being almost unearthly.
- As the afternoon wore on, Evelyn began to notice more and more how the men treated her.
- That evening she was due to go out and as time wore on Jane began to call round friends and family to try and track her down.
- That night we all had a really great time, but as the evening wore on I began to feel a bit uncomfortable.
- It's the sort of thriller which, as time wears on, is beginning to look dated.
- As the afternoon wore on, the sun moved around so that it was warming the side of the building on which we were sitting.
- And then as the afternoon wore on, they'd move out and sit on the verandah and look out at the garden beyond.
- As the years wore on she began talking about leaving the Order, more and more.
- The day passed slowly for him and as it wore on he began to slowly give up hope.
- As the night wore on the smokers moved further and further down our table.
- The first night at sea began calmly and William slept soundly but as the night wore on, the ship began to roll as she encountered a fair swell.
Synonyms pass, elapse, proceed, progress, advance, move on, run its course, go by, go on, go past, roll by, roll on, roll past, march on, glide by, glide past, slide by, slide past, slip away, slip by, slip past, fly by, fly past, steal by, steal past, tick by, tick past
wear something out (also wear out) Use or be used until no longer in good condition or working order. wearing out the stair carpet the type was used again and again until it wore out Example sentencesExamples - The intensive care unit I used to work in did have the best equipment but once it broke or wore out there was no money to replace it.
- Other than that, cheap stuff, sale items, and a lot of hand-me-downs went into each backpack, which was also kept until it either wore out or became too youthful for its owner.
- Excess calcium, though, can cause the heart to beat irregularly until the muscle wears out.
- Find a set you like better than any other, and use them until you wear them out.
- Its soundtrack album was one of the first records I owned, and played until the grooves wore out.
- But, while people were living longer, they were not working longer, because their bodies wore out.
- At our first meeting he took the bracelet off his wrist and snapped it onto mine, where it remained until it almost wore out.
- I recently upgraded to a new cellphone because my old one just wore out, but I decided not to go the photophone route just yet.
- That's because car designs are planned years in advance and old cars remain on the roads until they wear out.
- Last Saturday the 55-year-old wore out some more sole leather on the anti-war march with up to 100,000 others in Glasgow.
- It has been a glorious century and mankind will be eternally grateful for its legacy, playing golden age recordings until they wear out.
- Interestingly enough, he died not because his body rejected the heart or anything like that, but simply because the artificial heart wore out.
- I adored this adventure and wore out the books reading it over and over again - as indeed I did with most of the Tintin books, except for the Moon ones which didn't enthral me as much.
- My old chemistry teacher used to lecture us lads about the virtue of having 31 ties, one for every day of the month, so they never wore out.
- Initially made of hemp or vine the ring could be replaced whenever it wore out.
- At the studio, I waited in a dressing room for everything to be over - I must owe ITV for the strip of carpet I wore out with all my pacing.
- Socks were made of pure wool, which wore out at the toes and heels so holes occurred very often.
- We take many of these things - I'd add watches, jackets, and a few other types of clothes to the mix - entirely for granted until the old one wears out.
- Its front wheels were incorporated into a trailer for use around the farm, and did sterling service until the bearings wore out.
- I had a long way to walk to school and my boots wore out.
Synonyms deteriorate, become worn, show signs of wear, come to the end of its life, become useless, wear thin, fray, become threadbare, go into holes, go through, wear through use up, consume, go through, wear holes in, make threadbare, make worn
wear someone/something out Exhaust or tire someone or something. an hour of this wandering wore him out Example sentencesExamples - Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day-to-day living that wears you out.
- The system seems set to put you off, to slow you down and to wear you out.
- She's only good at sitting up for two or three hours before she needs to lie down so I try to time these things so as not to wear her out.
- We resorted to walking him around the lounge to try to wear him out.
- She and Howard were together for 18 years, and it wore her out.
- He reportedly dumped her because her bedroom antics wore him out.
- I don't know what's wearing me out at the moment, but for the first time in years I actually fell asleep on the train.
- The night flight, combined with the two-hour time difference, wore us out.
- He said: ‘I've cut down on the junk food and take more exercise. The workouts wear you out but are really good.’
- All the tests and procedures are wearing him out.
- All that driving and fighting wore me out.
- I don't like talking on the phone to people I like, but talking to clients just absolutely wears me out.
- The older you get, the more the travel wears you out.
- I've spoken to some of the other students who do bar work in the evenings, but they said it wears you out.
- So that whole driving trip wore me out although poor Mike did all the driving!
- If anything, he wasn't being quite as surreal; the humour was more down-to-earth, about things like how having kids wears you out, and how people need to calm down in today's society, etc.
- Sarah came to see him yesterday, which was lovely but wore him out.
- I used to thrive on stress, but now it wears me out.
- Are you finding that touring can wear you out after a while?
- Pundits and other political cynics scoff at citizens' efforts to reform our money-corrupted political process, saying it's as futile as trying to teach table manners to a hog - the effort wears you out and it only annoys the hog.
Synonyms fatigue, tire out, overtire, weary, exhaust, drain, sap, wash out, tax, overtax, enervate, debilitate, enfeeble, jade, incapacitate, devitalize, prostrate
Origin Old English werian, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin vestis 'clothing'. invest from mid 16th century: The root of invest is Latin vestis ‘clothes’, also the source of vest (Late Middle English), and which shares an Indo-European root with wear (Old English). Latin investire meant ‘to put clothes on someone’, and was the sense of invest when it entered English in the mid 16th century. Someone being formally installed in a job or office would once have been ceremonially dressed in special clothing, and this is behind the sense ‘to formally confer a rank or office on someone’. The main modern use of the word is financial—putting money into a commercial venture with the expectation of profit. This came into English under the influence of a related Italian word in the early 17th century, apparently through a comparison between putting money into various enterprises and dressing it in a variety of clothing.
Rhymes affair, affaire, air, Altair, Althusser, Anvers, Apollinaire, Astaire, aware, Ayer, Ayr, bare, bear, bêche-de-mer, beware, billionaire, Blair, blare, Bonaire, cafetière, care, chair, chargé d'affaires, chemin de fer, Cher, Clair, Claire, Clare, commissionaire, compare, concessionaire, cordon sanitaire, couvert, Daguerre, dare, debonair, declare, derrière, despair, doctrinaire, éclair, e'er, elsewhere, ensnare, ere, extraordinaire, Eyre, fair, fare, fayre, Finisterre, flair, flare, Folies-Bergère, forbear, forswear, foursquare, glair, glare, hair, hare, heir, Herr, impair, jardinière, Khmer, Kildare, La Bruyère, lair, laissez-faire, legionnaire, luminaire, mal de mer, mare, mayor, meunière, mid-air, millionaire, misère, Mon-Khmer, multimillionaire, ne'er, Niger, nom de guerre, outstare, outwear, pair, pare, parterre, pear, père, pied-à-terre, Pierre, plein-air, prayer, questionnaire, rare, ready-to-wear, rivière, Rosslare, Santander, savoir faire, scare, secretaire, share, snare, solitaire, Soufrière, spare, square, stair, stare, surface-to-air, swear, Tailleferre, tare, tear, their, there, they're, vin ordinaire, Voltaire, ware, Weston-super-Mare, where, yeah verbworn, wore wɛːwɛr [with object]Sailing Bring (a ship) about by turning its head away from the wind. Shannon gives the order to wear ship Compare with tack (sense 2 of the verb)
Origin Early 17th century: of unknown origin. verbwerwɛr 1with object Have on one's body or a part of one's body as clothing, decoration, protection, or for some other purpose. he was wearing a dark suit both ladies wore a bunch of violets Example sentencesExamples - I do wear mini skirts sometimes but black ones not pink ones!
- Many of the victims wore multiple layers of clothing and carried small personal items like jewelry and medication.
- She was wearing a silky black dress that stopped just above her knees.
- To finish the outfit off, she decided to wear her black rimmed glasses rather than her contacts.
- He had no protective clothing and wore only overalls.
- The man was wearing a dark navy suit, which fitted his body like a glove.
- The men, wearing ski masks and dark clothing, were seen running off down Water Lane.
- She walked over to the other side of the room, wearing only her undergarments.
- Mr Laing and the rest of the crew wore several layers of protective clothing, which made moving around the boat difficult.
- When meeting a man for the first time, wear an item of clothing that will make it easy and fun for him to spot you.
- There was a girl standing in front of a mirror wearing a long black dress.
- Both robbers wore balaclavas, dark clothing and hooded jackets.
- A specialist cleaning company had to send in people wearing protective clothing and breathing masks to clear what turned out to be six tonnes of waste.
- Crews wearing breathing apparatus spent more than seven hours extinguishing the blaze and ensuring the property was safe.
- Bradburne, a no-nonsense lady wearing a headscarf to protect her head from the bitter north wind, shrugs her shoulders.
- I don't think they should go to the parade wearing suits and smart clothing because it just won't seem right at all.
- He is wearing a dark indigo suit, elegant in its tailoring, a fine white shirt, and a richly colored tie.
- Out of the corner of my eye, however, I can see two dark-suited men wearing shades leaning against a wall staring at me intently.
- She wore the black sequined dress to her 37th birthday party at the Tate Museum.
- He was wearing a balaclava and dark clothing at the time of the incident.
- She was a fine-looking woman in her thirties, wearing a smart black dress.
- The offenders were described only as wearing balaclavas and dark clothing.
Synonyms be dressed in, be clothed in, have on, sport - 1.1 Habitually have on one's body or be dressed in.
although she was a widow, she didn't wear black Example sentencesExamples - And what about the robes that priests wear? They too are long, flowing and can be used to conceal such things.
- Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?
- Over 90% of North American women wear a bra, many without ever asking why.
- Aymara men in the Altiplano region wear long cotton trousers and woolen caps with ear flaps.
- 1.2 Exhibit or present (a particular facial expression or appearance)
they wear a frozen smile on their faces Example sentencesExamples - His familiar face appeared on the front page of the Brighton Argus, wearing an expression of glowering discomfort.
- Alice, the head nurse, wore her usual grim expression and young Lily stood at the foot of the bed with wide, expectant eyes.
- The stern expression he wore did little to calm her already stretched nerves.
- Tyler, who wore a politely puzzled expression, sat very comfortably on the couch, with one leg resting on top of the other.
- He wears such an infectious smile all the time that one finds it difficult to associate him with a subject as grim as mental health.
- Mr. Harken, on the other hand, still wore the same pleasant expression.
- When she spoke again, she was almost whispering, and she wore a particularly vulnerable expression.
- In fact, every classical musician had reasons to wear such a smile.
- By the time I reached the girl Ryan was presently dancing with, Mark wore a skeptical expression on his face.
- He's wearing a slightly dazed expression, but looks relaxed.
- She literally froze in mid-run, her face still wearing a fierce expression.
- Behind her stood Kip, hands on his hips and wearing an unusually serious expression.
- Usually he'd put a smile on his face during a meeting like this, but instead he wore a very dismal expression.
- However, his face wore an expression she knew all too well.
- She then turned her head to look at Josh, who wore a very confused expression.
- All wore grave expressions, and the children appeared close to tears.
- Instead, you stand meekly, wearing your most hopeful expression, vainly attempting to read the seating plan upside down.
- He wore the broadest of smiles as Donald was presented with the cup.
- One look at Sophia's face and the guilty expression she wore confirmed her suspicions.
- She looked at Dylan who was wearing a slight unfamiliar facial expression.
Synonyms have, have on one's face, present, show, display, exhibit, bear - 1.3with object and complement or adverbial Have (one's hair or beard) at a specified length or arranged in a specified style.
the students wore their hair long Example sentencesExamples - Amy wore her long brown hair down and a light shade of pink eyeliner.
- Ann then played with Kat's hair for few minutes until it was just perfect; Kat's hair would be worn down.
- Kate stepped off the plane wearing a long skirt and a cute little blouse, wearing her long blonde hair in a ponytail.
- His short, blonde hair is worn in a style that reminds you of a gush of water.
- Milly, who had red hair which was always worn in a ponytail, and brown eyes, still had a child-like mentality.
- She wore her honey-colored hair in a ponytail, a baseball cap shielding her face from the afternoon sun.
- I remember that Jason wore his longish blonde hair combed over to one side.
- On a daily basis, he wears his lightly graying hair in braids, but for ceremonies he takes great care preparing his hair and traditional costume.
- When it came to how Sarah's hair should be worn, there was an even greater dispute.
- Her hard-set blue eyes were serious and cool, and she wore her reddish blonde hair in tight curls.
- She was wearing her long raven hair down like always, with just a touch of make-up gracing her pale skin.
- She wore her long blonde hair in a thick braid and her white dress swayed about her ankles as she walked to the other side of the porch.
- I had fine hair which was worn long until it was cut when I turned sixteen.
- He wore a well-trimmed gray beard and he kept his hair combed neatly.
- Her hair, which was worn up, was blonde with a tint of auburn.
- Perhaps she was a businesswoman now, who normally wore her shoulder-length hair in a tight bun.
- She was in her sixties and wore her thinning gray hair pulled back in a loose bun with all but a few strands secured by bobby pins.
- The girl, on the other hand, wears her glossy red hair long, tied back into a ponytail, and she had glittery black eyes.
- Katy always braided her hair and Ansley always wore hers in a ponytail.
- He was neither tall nor short with graying hair and wore a well-trimmed beard.
- She wore her light brown hair up in two messy Chinese-style knots on top of her head and had secured them with shoelaces, one neon orange and one plaid.
- Her honey-blond hair was worn in a shoulder-length bob and she had deep blue eyes.
- 1.4Nautical (of a ship) fly (a flag).
Example sentencesExamples - The Blue Ensign worn by Government vessels usually has the badge of the department in the fly.
- She still continues to wear the Blue Ensign until her hand-over to the Navy, scheduled for September, and her commissioning is due in October.
- As well as being the senior ensign of the King's ships, the red ensign was also worn by merchant ships.
2with object and adverbial or complement Damage, erode, or destroy by friction or use. the track has been worn down in part to bare rock Example sentencesExamples - Then he noticed that the rock had been worn smooth, as if lots of people before him had also sat on it.
- The stone toe of Saint Jude, patron of impossible causes, was worn smooth by the desperate kisses of the faithful.
- Over time, however, the ocean - and heavy-footed climbers - steadily wore away the surrounding cliffs.
- Anyone can make a set of runes by burning the symbols on bits of wood or painting them on stones worn smooth by water.
- I held out my hand and she passed something to me: a piece of glass, worn smooth by the water.
- A hip replacement replaces a hip joint that has been damaged or worn away, usually by arthritis or injury.
- Above a small clearing the stream cascaded down a series of massive stone steps to fall into a deep, broad pool lined with raw rock worn smooth by the water.
- Rough concrete wears the tires down more quickly.
- Years of natural erosion have worn away the church's stonework.
- The rest of the shoreline was rock, worn smooth from the constant action of the waves.
- If the cartilage is damaged by injury or worn away by arthritis for example, the ends of the bones can rub together, causing pain and restricting movement.
- They rose through a spiraling passage, surrounded by cool stone that had been worn smooth over the many long years of the school's existence.
- Their great old houses overflow with rough medieval furniture, threadbare tapestries and religious relics worn smooth by the touch of generations.
- The inscription plate was barely discernible, having been worn smooth by years of polishing, but a copy has now been placed on a card placed inside the lid.
- The bluff's golden sandstone has been worn down by water and wind into stunning sculptures and patterns.
- Whatever paint the porch rail once had has been worn away by time exposing the beautiful, smooth graininess of the wood.
Synonyms erode, abrade, scour, scratch, scrape, rasp, rub away, rub down, grind away, fret, waste away, wash away, crumble, crumble away, wear down - 2.1no object, with adverbial or complement Undergo damage, erosion, or destruction by friction or use.
mountains are wearing down with each passing second Example sentencesExamples - The good news is that we can rebuild old loops and links on your jewelry that have worn thin and make them like new again!
- Over the years, the tip of the exposed pole came into contact with the underground cable and the fence became electrified when insulation covering the cable wore away, he said.
- Continually running an older car not designed to use unleaded petrol will eventually cause the coating to wear away, causing damage to the valves and cylinder heads.
- The road surface has worn away.
- Parking restrictions in parts of Oxford are no longer being enforced because road markings have worn away.
- The top layer of our concrete patio has worn away.
- When you say that your daughter's teeth have worn down, that implies that she might be grinding her teeth, probably at night.
- The road surface had worn smooth and in places there were sunken tyres tracks that caused vehicles to shudder when they pass over them.
- 2.2with object Form (a hole, path, etc.) by constant friction or use.
the water was forced up through holes it had worn Example sentencesExamples - Deep grooves and channels have been worn into the 600-year-old stone down the centuries.
- It turned out that the float had been vibrating against the body of the carburettor and had worn a little hole through it.
- What is also happening as a result is that a path is being worn across the grass, which does nothing to enhance the look of the area.
- We followed a path worn into the grass, past what looked like a cornfield in its most premature state.
- Today we see him sporting a Monty Python and the Holy Grail T-shirt with a pair of baggy jeans with holes worn in the knees.
- Explaining why a formal dress-code hinders your ability to do your job should be easy enough if you're worn a hole through the knee on a pair of pants.
- Bryony jogged along the narrow path worn into the floor of the forest.
- Sure enough, the big toe sticking out of the hole she had worn in her soft leather shoes was swollen.
- Well, it's nice compared to T-shirts and dirt-stained jeans with holes worn into the knees.
- Then there are the holes he wore in his jackets after putting them on for thirty years, or the mismatched patches she would use to sew them up.
- Time and travelling feet have worn grooves into hillsides as much as 3m deep.
- 2.3no object, with adverbial Withstand continued use or life in a specified way.
a carpet-type finish seems to wear well Example sentencesExamples - Whether you're planning to do the work yourself or get someone in, remember that gravel requires a firm, consolidated base to look good and wear well.
- In addition to containing environmentally friendly raw materials, sustainable products typically wear well.
- Gears without lubrication wear badly.
- Our academics have won prizes for their work on Maori but it is my guess that much of their work won't wear well over time.
- A ring that is plated with platinum but is actually sterling silver is probably not a good choice not because it might wear badly but because it is really only valued based on the underlying metal, which is silver.
- Such testosterone-laden yarns do not wear well a millennium on.
- There's a no-nonsense look about the dashboard area - the car is clearly designed here to wear well and not date.
- This carpet is less formal-looking but will wear well.
- I found the rugs didn't wear well either, but I love the colours, so I'm considering taking mine off the floor and hanging them too.
- So quite why the front tyres have worn badly on the inside edge I'm not sure.
- A bespoke suit will wear well and hold its cut for years.
- These cars perform well; the slightly dowdy interiors wear well and the seat mechanisms have proved robust.
Synonyms last, endure, hold up, survive, bear up, keep going, carry on, prove durable, resist wear, stand wear, withstand wear, stand up to wear, do - 2.4wear onno object Cause weariness or fatigue to.
some losses can wear on you Example sentencesExamples - Impatience and fatigue are wearing on the minds of hurricane victims in Pensacola, Florida.
- Fatigue was wearing on his already exhausted body, bewilderment on his mind.
- In a culture where affluence and leisure are seen as birthrights, war, sacrifice, or even the mental fatigue about worrying over such things wear on us.
3literary with object Pass (a period of time) in some activity. spinning long stories, wearing half the day 4British informal with object, usually with negative Tolerate; accept. the environmental health people wouldn't wear it Example sentencesExamples - When it comes to paying too much money for an event the Government just won't wear it.
- For a start you'd have the fossil fuel interests opposing nuclear power generation, but more importantly the Australian public just wouldn't wear it I think.
- To replace bills with coins would save the Treasury at least $500m (£263m) a year. Yet Americans just won't wear it.
Synonyms allow, permit, authorize, sanction, condone, indulge, agree to, accede to, approve of
nounwerwɛr 1The wearing of something or the state of being worn as clothing. some new tops for wear in the evening Example sentencesExamples - She had left her hotel earlier that morning to complete a wardrobe of gowns suitable for wear in England.
- The gray physical-fitness uniform is no longer authorized for wear for physical training.
- It's a well made children's line and is cut on the big size for plenty of wear.
- She also has an own-name, off-the-peg collection suitable for occasion wear.
- The polycotton floral patterned sarees can be suitable for casual or formal wear.
- He was also slightly more Catholic than the Pope, and a black soutane with a narrow picotee edge of brilliant carmine red is the garment affected by Cardinals for everyday wear.
- And while you may not incorrectly mark me as the kind of person to own more than a few black items of clothing, I don't have many really suitable for funeral wear.
- I love mine, but it is pretty plain, which is perfect for everyday wear, but I would like something a different colour.
2with modifier Clothing suitable for a particular purpose or of a particular type. Example sentencesExamples - Casual wear is permitted after hours, as long as it follows the school dress code.
- This colourful handmade woollen wear come in green, red, ivory and black.
- For those who like to shop, Hawkshead offers outdoor wear, plenty of gift shops and some very nice pubs and cafes.
- The programme began shortly after 8pm and featured the delegates in traditional East Indian wear and evening gowns.
- It offers 5,000 sq ft of quality footwear, from outdoor to special occasion wear and top brands like Ecco, Van Dal, and Clarks.
- And I think it's great that she is designing supercute, trendy maternity wear for your stores.
- Patagonia has turned organic cotton and fleece made of recycled plastic into high-end outdoor wear.
- Today, these outfits serve as stage costumes rather than street wear.
- The shop not only sells a large selection of bridal wear, but also has bridal packages, beauty treatments and a range of other services all under one roof.
- Household and electrical goods and fashion wear have been the best-selling items, he said.
- It is a vast style improvement on beach wear and ghastly ski wear.
- People hurried back and forth, wrapped in cloaks or swirling capes behind them, in peasant wear or merchant finery.
- The event will feature 50 stalls selling everything from stylish hats and designer wear to the latest kitchen implements.
- The two brands provide a series of swimwear, gym wear, underwear and accessories which are young, sporty and sexy.
- There are a lot of vibrant colours in the traditional wear.
- Purchase bicycle clothing made of reflective fabrics or add reflective tape to all of your rainy-weather wear.
- The site also features the firm's specialised fabrics such as blazer cloths along with corporate wear and men's and women's wear for the retail market.
- To say that business wear has changed in the past couple of years is an understatement.
- There is a big price range for maternity wear, so you should be able to find lots of stuff you can afford.
- His smooth chat-up technique is hampered by an appalling taste in casual wear.
Synonyms clothes, dress, clothing, attire, garb, finery, garments, outfits, wardrobe 3Damage or deterioration sustained from continuous use. you need to make a deduction for wear and tear on all your belongings Example sentencesExamples - Also, swap positions of the wheels with the most wear with less worn wheels.
- Then he handed out our textbooks; I now had a math book and a history book, and the history book sustained the more wear and tear of the two.
- As a landlord you can refuse to return their deposit if they have caused damage beyond normal wear and tear.
- Most guarantees expressly exclude faults which are the result of misuse by the consumer, accidental damage or normal wear and tear.
- Although ships are meant to be thoroughly checked every two years for cracks and other signs of structural wear, the inspections often do not take place.
- Always drive in the correct gear for your speed - it reduces wear and tear on the engine components and also provides improved fuel efficiency.
- Because car carpets are expensive, it makes sense to protect them from damage or regular wear and tear.
- Less wear and tear on the cars means fewer new car purchases.
- Doctors suspect chronic back pain is caused by a combination of normal wear and tear on the joints of the back and poor muscle control.
- The combination of solvents and heat is hard on fabrics and may cause as much wear as actual wearing of the garment.
- Although your body can fix itself on the fly, damage accumulates if the rate of wear and tear is greater than the rate of repair.
- This testing also provides a great opportunity to inspect your well pump for wear of its moving parts as well as the electrical system.
- Mum will tell you that it's not a cheap business paying for uniforms especially with the added wear and tear caused by skateboarding and playing footy in the schoolyard.
- It is now starting to show signs of wear and tear.
- The teeth and their pattern of wear are unlike that seen in any modern mammal so what this animal ate is something of a mystery.
- For what it is worth, this pattern does show less wear in hard use.
- It's not starting the engine that causes extra wear and tear.
- This is in order to prevent premature wear of the valve seats.
- In osteoarthritis, the alignment of the leg changes because of wear.
- It has been showing the effects of wear and tear for some time.
Synonyms damage, wear and tear, battering, friction, erosion, attrition, corrosion, abrasion, deterioration, degeneration - 3.1 The capacity for withstanding continuous use without damage.
old things were relegated to the bedrooms because there was plenty of wear left in them Example sentencesExamples - Wildflower Farm also sells Eco Lawn, a blend of seven native grasses that grow well in arid conditions and are designed to withstand wear.
- Routine safety labeling must have adhesives strong enough to withstand wear, jarring and abuse.
Synonyms use, wearing, service, employment, utility, value
Phrases Be gradually used up or become less convincing or acceptable. his patience was wearing thin the joke had started to wear thin Example sentencesExamples - Perhaps the excitement of her fantasies wore thin, and she became obsessed with the idea of confessing all, hence acquiring a thrill and notoriety of a different sort.
- Anyway, he was funny and fun; but then I saw him a few more times and the gag wore thin.
- It wears thin though once the trivia bits begin repeating themselves.
- ‘Only then will you understand why our patience and tolerance is wearing thin,’ says a harried-looking constable.
- This search for meaning through interior decor, however, wears thin and, while Alan is away in America where he has been head-hunted to run research for a leading textile firm, Patsy embarks on an affair back home in England.
- But having said that patience locally is wearing thin.
- We started off with the best of intentions, but the stamina wore thin as the days and nights went by.
- I thought the joke wore thin really quickly, actually.
- The truth is, however, that you can only watch a movie so many times before the appeal wears thin.
- Graham was more diligent, and obtained some good results but, in the end, his patience wore thin and he came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the effort.
Phrasal Verbs wear someone/something down Overcome someone or something by persistence. they wore down their opponents to win the marathon match Example sentencesExamples - With the strength of an ox, he will run all day to wear his opponent down.
- Mr Johnston said officers had been worn down by staff reductions and the increase in workloads, as well as the imposition of pay awards below the rate of inflation.
- After umpteen prosecutions for failing to display a UK motor tax disc, the authorities were worn down by his dogged challenging of their authority to levy tax.
- Over the years they wore the residents down with what can only be called ‘strong-arm tactics.’
- The previous year had worn me down, and I was hoping that 2004 would be a lot calmer.
- This last 9 months in the wilderness of soul-destroying job applications and mind-numbing temp jobs had worn me down.
- In the final set he did not lose a single point on his serve and wore his opponent down with relentless rallying to complete the victory 6-1 in the third.
- Free calls allow scammers to spend as long as they want wearing victims down with long calls or repeatedly phoning back.
- After announcing his resignation to the university's board of supervisors, he acknowledged that the conflicts with faculty members had worn him down.
- I mean, I know there is no legal strategy to deliberately delay the progress of cases, or to wear people down.
- The frustration of trying to do this on my own is wearing my resolve down.
- The father said, ‘No, no, no,’ at first and refused, but finally he was worn down by the boy's persistence.
- Because of this, hares use their superior speed to try and escape but the superior stamina of the hounds wears the hare down to exhaustion.
- The stabbing was a desperate response to his behaviour, after she had been worn down by years of mistreatment.
- ‘Sleep deprivation, food deprivation, being made to stand up for hours would be used in the past to wear people down,’ said one former officer.
- He eventually wears her down with his persistence and convinces her to marry him by giving her mother and siblings a place to live when her father dies.
- He says continuing speculation about the company's future is wearing workers down.
- In a world where human beings can never know enough people, and where their close relationships are worn down by misunderstandings and separations, literature serves as an experiment in sympathy.
- Rugby league is brutally hard, especially in the early stages of a game, when space is at a premium and big men come together in a series of energy-sapping collisions, sniffing for weakness and looking to wear the opposition down.
- For years our youth have been exposed to less than exciting training routines and game plans which have primarily focused on keeping the ball in hand and relying on brute strength to wear the opposition down.
- While he has lost none of his charisma, the years of ridicule appear to have worn him down.
- This was a peace process by sloth, a two-year long round of talks about talks about talks, which finally wore the parties down to the point where they would have put their names to just about anything the Prime Minister stuck in front of them.
- The pleading in his voice must have worn her down.
- He said his father had worn him down over years with derogatory comments and he just snapped.
- It already had been a long day, and the stress had worn me down.
- Sometimes you see the bigger, heavier, stronger side wear the other team down but that didn't happen today.
- Sometimes we argue and he wears my patience down and my only refuge will be an insult aimed at his mother.
- They want to wear people down; they are counting on people like you and me to get tired, hungry.
- I have to admit, I pretty much just wore him down.
- Some teachers, on the other hand, wait until their exit interview to voice concerns about conditions that have worn them down and driven them from the profession.
Synonyms gradually overcome, slowly diminish, slowly lessen, slowly reduce, drain, erode, wear away, exhaust, undermine, chip away at
Lose effectiveness or intensity. Example sentencesExamples - Admittedly the word carries slightly more force and shock value when uttered by a member of the fairer sex but the novelty soon wears off.
- For many bloggers, the novelty soon wears off and their persistence fades.
- Will I be able to retain this enthusiasm for the gym or will the novelty soon wear off?
- Then after a few months or years the effects start wearing off and some people end up wondering what on earth they ever saw in their partners in the first place.
- So there is curiosity at first, but it soon wears off.
- I knew the novelty would soon wear off.
- The effect wore off quickly enough, and this time, it was Patrick who recovered first.
- After the effectiveness of the vaccines wears off, the risk of actual infection returns.
- You may attend a religious service once or twice, but the novelty soon wears off if you can't understand what's being said.
- The more he kept moving the more he realized he still felt stiff so the injection's effect was wearing off.
- They also said the effects would wear off and disappear altogether once users stopped taking oestrogen doses.
- Finally, after an extended period, the positive effects of antidepressants can wear off.
- Initially it was therapeutic for me to retell the story, but that soon wore off.
- The pain began in earnest a couple of days after the accident, when the numbing effects of adrenaline wore off.
- The effect was slowly wearing off and he'd really like to eat some real food.
- The novelty of living in a hotel suite and surrendering your personal privacy soon wears off.
- Even though the anaesthetic soon wore off, my lips did look slightly sore and a touch puffy - not my prettiest.
- I went home and my anger soon wore off and I was sad about having had the argument.
- The excitement soon wore off and they sat side by side, idly reading through magazines Alexa had bought.
- Unfortunately, the hallucinatory effects of the food wore off all too soon.
Synonyms fade, dwindle, diminish, lessen, decrease, wane, ebb, subside, weaken, lose intensity, lose strength, peter out, melt away, fizzle out, pall, taper off, tail off, grow faint, grow dim, evaporate, disappear, vanish, die, come to nothing, come to a halt, come to an end, run out
(of a period of time) pass, especially slowly or tediously. as the afternoon wore on he began to look unhappy Example sentencesExamples - As the day wore on the tranquillity of the afternoon is remembered as being almost unearthly.
- In Warsaw, the stadium scoreboard showed that the temperature was slowly but steadily dropping as the night wore on.
- As the afternoon wore on, the sun moved around so that it was warming the side of the building on which we were sitting.
- As the years wore on she began talking about leaving the Order, more and more.
- As the night wore on the smokers moved further and further down our table.
- The first night at sea began calmly and William slept soundly but as the night wore on, the ship began to roll as she encountered a fair swell.
- The day passed slowly for him and as it wore on he began to slowly give up hope.
- But as the afternoon wore on, it became increasingly obvious that the Clarets were never going to score.
- As time wore on, she began to suspect that maybe she was going around in circles.
- As the days wore on Jon was beginning to get the feeling that Scott wanted no part of anyone anymore.
- Sadly, as the months wore on, Mick began to get more and more difficult.
- As the afternoon wore on, Evelyn began to notice more and more how the men treated her.
- And then as the afternoon wore on, they'd move out and sit on the verandah and look out at the garden beyond.
- It's the sort of thriller which, as time wears on, is beginning to look dated.
- As the day wore on, we all began to realise just how privileged we were to be part of this expedition.
- That night we all had a really great time, but as the evening wore on I began to feel a bit uncomfortable.
- But as the evening wore on I began to realise the merit in this approach.
- That evening she was due to go out and as time wore on Jane began to call round friends and family to try and track her down.
Synonyms pass, elapse, proceed, progress, advance, move on, run its course, go by, go on, go past, roll by, roll on, roll past, march on, glide by, glide past, slide by, slide past, slip away, slip by, slip past, fly by, fly past, steal by, steal past, tick by, tick past
wear something out (or wear out) 1Use or be used until no longer in good condition or working order. wearing out the stair carpet the type was used again and again until it wore out Example sentencesExamples - Excess calcium, though, can cause the heart to beat irregularly until the muscle wears out.
- We take many of these things - I'd add watches, jackets, and a few other types of clothes to the mix - entirely for granted until the old one wears out.
- Initially made of hemp or vine the ring could be replaced whenever it wore out.
- At our first meeting he took the bracelet off his wrist and snapped it onto mine, where it remained until it almost wore out.
- Its front wheels were incorporated into a trailer for use around the farm, and did sterling service until the bearings wore out.
- Socks were made of pure wool, which wore out at the toes and heels so holes occurred very often.
- Interestingly enough, he died not because his body rejected the heart or anything like that, but simply because the artificial heart wore out.
- Last Saturday the 55-year-old wore out some more sole leather on the anti-war march with up to 100,000 others in Glasgow.
- My old chemistry teacher used to lecture us lads about the virtue of having 31 ties, one for every day of the month, so they never wore out.
- That's because car designs are planned years in advance and old cars remain on the roads until they wear out.
- I recently upgraded to a new cellphone because my old one just wore out, but I decided not to go the photophone route just yet.
- I had a long way to walk to school and my boots wore out.
- The intensive care unit I used to work in did have the best equipment but once it broke or wore out there was no money to replace it.
- Other than that, cheap stuff, sale items, and a lot of hand-me-downs went into each backpack, which was also kept until it either wore out or became too youthful for its owner.
- It has been a glorious century and mankind will be eternally grateful for its legacy, playing golden age recordings until they wear out.
- Find a set you like better than any other, and use them until you wear them out.
- Its soundtrack album was one of the first records I owned, and played until the grooves wore out.
- At the studio, I waited in a dressing room for everything to be over - I must owe ITV for the strip of carpet I wore out with all my pacing.
- I adored this adventure and wore out the books reading it over and over again - as indeed I did with most of the Tintin books, except for the Moon ones which didn't enthral me as much.
- But, while people were living longer, they were not working longer, because their bodies wore out.
Synonyms deteriorate, become worn, show signs of wear, come to the end of its life, become useless, wear thin, fray, become threadbare, go into holes, go through, wear through use up, consume, go through, wear holes in, make threadbare, make worn 2Exhaust or tire someone or something. an hour of this wandering wore out Lampard's patience Example sentencesExamples - He said: ‘I've cut down on the junk food and take more exercise. The workouts wear you out but are really good.’
- She's only good at sitting up for two or three hours before she needs to lie down so I try to time these things so as not to wear her out.
- Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day-to-day living that wears you out.
- If anything, he wasn't being quite as surreal; the humour was more down-to-earth, about things like how having kids wears you out, and how people need to calm down in today's society, etc.
- We resorted to walking him around the lounge to try to wear him out.
- Pundits and other political cynics scoff at citizens' efforts to reform our money-corrupted political process, saying it's as futile as trying to teach table manners to a hog - the effort wears you out and it only annoys the hog.
- I used to thrive on stress, but now it wears me out.
- All that driving and fighting wore me out.
- Are you finding that touring can wear you out after a while?
- Sarah came to see him yesterday, which was lovely but wore him out.
- She and Howard were together for 18 years, and it wore her out.
- The night flight, combined with the two-hour time difference, wore us out.
- I don't like talking on the phone to people I like, but talking to clients just absolutely wears me out.
- So that whole driving trip wore me out although poor Mike did all the driving!
- The older you get, the more the travel wears you out.
- All the tests and procedures are wearing him out.
- I've spoken to some of the other students who do bar work in the evenings, but they said it wears you out.
- He reportedly dumped her because her bedroom antics wore him out.
- The system seems set to put you off, to slow you down and to wear you out.
- I don't know what's wearing me out at the moment, but for the first time in years I actually fell asleep on the train.
Synonyms fatigue, tire out, overtire, weary, exhaust, drain, sap, wash out, tax, overtax, enervate, debilitate, enfeeble, jade, incapacitate, devitalize, prostrate
Origin Old English werian, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin vestis ‘clothing’. verbwerwɛr [with object]Sailing Bring (a ship) about by turning its head away from the wind. Shannon gives the order to wear ship
Origin Early 17th century: of unknown origin. |