wear out

verb

wore out; worn out; wearing out; wears out
Synonyms of wear outnext

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 of wear out

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Examples of wear out in a Sentence

keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the Supertorquer is a solid-state technology, meaning there’s no moving parts that will wear out over time, extending the lifetime of satellites. — Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 These metallic sneakers from Veja are fancy enough to wear out on the town, but comfy enough to don for long days of sightseeing. — Amber Cardullo, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026 Old Age Sometimes, yellow monstera leaves are old and worn out. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026 Overall, workout shorts that wear out quickly usually last less than a year, while more durable options last longer than a year. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for wear out

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Browse Nearby Words

wear one's heart on one's sleeve
wear out
wear out one's welcome
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wear out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20out. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wear out

verb
1
: to tire gradually
worn out from exercising
2
: to make or become useless by wear
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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