wear out

verb

wore out; worn out; wearing out; wears out

transitive verb

1
2
: to make useless especially by long or hard usage
3
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

Examples of wear out in a Sentence

keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Take Hailey Bieber in her boxy Saint Laurent suit, worn out in L.A. with friends. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2024 But that hopeful news—and the constant drumbeat of election developments—seems to have drowned out another important, yet more sobering, trend: Consumers as a group are worn out by inflation and all the other financial disruptions triggered by the COVID pandemic. Greg Petro, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Lounge pants: $37.99 Lounge pants can be used for their intended purpose, lounging, or many look stylish enough to wear out and about. Christopher Murray, Fox News, 22 Oct. 2024 For Cleaning Your Cutting Board When used often, cutting boards can begin to wear out over time and may even start to emit an odor. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wear out 

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wear out was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Wear out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20out. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wear out

verb
1
: to tire gradually
worn out from exercising
2
: to make or become useless by wear

More from Merriam-Webster on wear out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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