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

Meanwhile, consumers are lured into buying more with products designed to wear out faster. —Greg Petro, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

The Lancers offensive line continued to wear out the Scorpions defense as the game wore on. —Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 30 Nov. 2024

Comfortable and who doesn't love a matching sweat suit that is chic enough to wear out on the town. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2024

Despite a reputation as a guy who wears out his welcome in the room, Hitchcock lasted the longest of this group, coaching in St. Louis until 2016-17. —Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

wear out

verb

1

: to tire gradually

worn out from exercising

2

: to make or become useless by wear