wear out

verb

wore out; worn out; wearing out; wears out

transitive verb

1

: tire, exhaust

2

: to make useless especially by long or hard usage

3

: erase, efface

4

: to endure through : outlast

wear out a storm

5

: to consume (time) tediously

wear out idle days

intransitive verb

: to become useless from long or excessive wear or use

Synonyms

• break
• burn out
• bust
• do in
• do up
• drain
• exhaust
• fag
• fatigue
• frazzle
• harass
• kill
• knock out
• outwear
• tire
• tucker (out)
• wash out
• wear
• weary

Examples of wear out in a Sentence

keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out

Recent Examples on the Web

Vincent is the son of said widow, Martine (Catherine Frot), and past jealousies resurface, leading to possible murder, as Jérémie wears out his welcome with the group. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2025

While slumbering in this washable silk number is akin to sleeping on satin sheets, this button-up top can get just as much wear out of the house. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2025

Also, sunlight may end up wearing out flooring and furniture throughout the home. —Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2025

As for Pettersson, the defenseman, the young blueliner has been so impressive through his first handful of games, but the trick for a young player breaking into the NHL is sustaining a high level when the adrenaline of your first cup of coffee wears out. —Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for wear out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

wear out

verb

1

: to tire gradually

worn out from exercising

2

: to make or become useless by wear