wear out
2 meanings
become damaged or thin after a lot of use
What does "wear out" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The children have worn out their school shoes already — that's the second pair this term.
- These tyres are completely worn out; you need to replace them before driving any further.
- He wore the soles out within a month of buying the boots.
How to use it
Use this pattern when you want to say that using something causes it to become damaged or useless.
She wears out a pair of trainers every few months because she runs every day.
When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between 'wear' and 'out' — you cannot put it after 'out'.
These roads are terrible for tyres — we wore them out in under a year.
With short noun phrases, separating the verb and particle is natural and very common.
He wore the soles out completely after just six weeks of hiking.
You can also use 'wear out' without an object when the thing itself is the subject doing the wearing out.
The carpet in the living room wore out quickly because of all the foot traffic.
The passive form is very natural and is often used to describe the current state of an object after heavy use.
The brake pads are completely worn out and need to be replaced immediately.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When using a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'wear' and 'out'. Putting the pronoun after 'out' is not correct in English.
The same form 'wear out' can mean to make a person very tired, but this entry is only about physical objects becoming damaged through use. If the object in your sentence is a person, you are using a different meaning.
'Wear out' is only used for things that deteriorate slowly over time through repeated use — not for objects that break in one moment. For sudden damage, use a word like 'break' or 'snap'.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and used in both spoken and written English. The adjective form 'worn out' (or 'worn-out' before a noun) is very common and often more natural than the verb form in descriptions.
make someone feel very tired
Sense 2: What does "wear sb out" mean?
Examples
- The children completely wore me out — I was asleep by nine o'clock.
- She feels totally worn out after working double shifts all week.
- Does the commute wear you out, or do you find it manageable?
How to use it
The most common active pattern, with the person being exhausted placed between 'wear' and 'out'.
The three-hour city tour completely wore us out.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'wear' and 'out' — there is no alternative position.
The heat was intense — it really wore me out by midday.
Used as a predicate adjective to describe the state of exhaustion, often with intensifiers like 'completely', 'absolutely', or 'totally'.
He felt absolutely worn out after spending the day helping friends move house.
When the object is a longer noun phrase, it can follow 'out' without separating the phrasal verb.
A full day of back-to-back meetings wore out even the most energetic members of the team.
Used to describe someone reaching a state of exhaustion, often with a cause mentioned afterwards.
She gets worn out easily when she hasn't had enough sleep.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When using a pronoun object, learners sometimes place it after 'out', but pronouns must always go between 'wear' and 'out'.
'Wear out' refers to immediate tiredness caused by a specific activity or event. 'Burn out' suggests deep, long-term exhaustion from sustained stress or overwork — don't use 'wear out' to describe months of chronic fatigue from a demanding career.
'Wear out' can also mean that an object becomes damaged or unusable through repeated use (e.g. 'My trainers have worn out'). When talking about exhausting a person, make sure the context clearly involves a human being tired, not an object deteriorating.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and everyday; it suits spoken English and informal writing well. The form 'worn out' is also very commonly used as an adjective after 'be' or 'feel', which is one of the most natural ways to express exhaustion in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'worn out' be used before a noun, like an adjective?
Yes, and it is very common. When used before a noun, add a hyphen: 'worn-out shoes', 'a worn-out engine'. When it comes after a verb like 'be', no hyphen is needed: 'The shoes are worn out'. This adjective form is often more natural than the verb form when you are describing the state of something.
Does 'wear out' always need an object, or can I use it without one?
You can use it both ways. With an object, you describe what is causing the damage: 'She wore out her jeans'. Without an object, the thing that deteriorates becomes the subject: 'His jeans wore out after a year'. Both patterns are natural and common.
What kinds of things can 'wear out'?
It is used for durable objects that are expected to last but gradually become damaged or useless through repeated use — things like shoes, tyres, carpets, brakes, tools, engines, and clothes. It would not normally be used for food, liquids, or other things that get used up or consumed.
What is the difference between 'wear out' and 'wear down'?
'Wear down' focuses on something getting gradually smaller or lower in size because of friction or pressure — for example, a heel that has worn down to almost nothing. 'Wear out' means the item has deteriorated to the point where it no longer works properly or is no longer useful. The two can overlap, but 'wear out' focuses on the end result of being useless, not just the process of getting smaller.
Can I use 'completely' or 'totally' with 'wear out'?
Yes, these adverbs are very commonly used to strengthen the meaning. You can say 'completely worn out' or 'totally worn out' to emphasise that the object is no longer usable at all. They work in both the verb form ('She completely wore out the carpet') and the adjective form ('The carpet is completely worn out').
Can 'worn out' be used as an adjective, not a verb?
Yes, and this is actually one of the most common ways to use it. After 'be', 'feel', or 'seem', 'worn out' works as an adjective describing a state of exhaustion. Phrases like 'I'm completely worn out' or 'she felt totally worn out' are extremely natural in everyday English.
What intensifiers go well with 'worn out'?
The most natural intensifiers are 'completely', 'absolutely', and 'totally'. These are very common collocates and make the expression sound more authentic. You can also use 'physically', 'mentally', or 'emotionally' before 'worn out' to specify the type of exhaustion.
Can 'wear out' describe mental or emotional tiredness, or only physical?
It can describe both. While physical exhaustion from exercise or a long day is the most common use, 'wear out' also works for mental or emotional tiredness caused by a demanding situation — for example, a difficult conversation or a stressful event. Just make sure it refers to a specific cause rather than long-term chronic stress.
Is 'wear out' used in both British and American English?
Yes, it is equally natural and common in both varieties. There is no significant regional difference in how this phrasal verb is used to describe exhaustion.
Can I use 'wear out' in formal writing?
It's better to avoid it in formal or academic writing, where 'exhaust' is the preferred choice. 'Wear out' fits well in everyday spoken English, informal emails, personal narratives, and diary entries, but would sound too casual in a professional report or academic essay.
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