What does "wear out" mean?
Two meanings:1. To become damaged or unusable through use:"My old trainers have completely worn out.""This carpet will wear out quickly with this much traffic.""The battery has worn out."2. To exhaust someone:"That meeting really wore me out.""Looking after three children all day wears you out.""...
Two meanings
1. To become damaged or unusable through use
"My old trainers have completely worn out."
"This carpet will wear out quickly with this much traffic."
"The battery has worn out."
2. To exhaust someone
"That meeting really wore me out."
"Looking after three children all day wears you out."
"I'm worn out." = I'm exhausted (very common expression)
Separable (meaning 2)
"It wore me out." β / "It wore out the team." β
Worn out as an adjective
"These shoes are worn out." (damaged and unusable)
"I'm completely worn out." (exhausted)
"A worn-out excuse." (overused and no longer convincing)
A native would say
- "Exhausted" / "knackered" (British) - for the person meaning
- "Used up" / "past it" - for the object meaning
- "Run into the ground" - to use something until it breaks
Register
Casual to everyday. Worn out as an adjective is used in all registers.
What does "wear out" mean?
Two meanings:1. To become damaged or unusable through use:"My old trainers have completely worn out.""This carpet will wear out quickly with this much traffic.""The battery has worn out."2. To exhaust someone:"That meeting really wore me out.""Looking after three children all day wears you out.""...
Is "wear out" formal or informal?
Casual to everyday. Worn out as an adjective is used in all registers.
What's another way to say "wear out"?
- "Exhausted" / "knackered" (British) - for the person meaning
- "Used up" / "past it" - for the object meaning
- "Run into the ground" - to use something until it breaks
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