1wear 
/ˈweɚ/ verb
wears; wore /ˈweɚ/ verb /ˈwoɚ/; worn /ˈwoɚn/; wear·ing [+ obj] 1 a : to use or have (something) as clothing : to have (a shirt, pants, etc.) over part of your body
▪ He was wearing blue jeans. ▪ She wore a red blouse to work. ▪ White coats are often worn by doctors.
b : to use or have (something) on your body
▪ I don't wear glasses. ▪ He doesn't wear a watch. ▪ Are you wearing perfume? ▪ a badge worn by police officers ▪ Were you wearing a seat belt?
c : to grow or arrange (your hair) in a particular way
▪ She wears her hair in a ponytail. ▪ I used to wear my hair long. ▪ He wears [=has] a beard now. 2 : to have or show (something, such as an emotion or facial expression) especially on your face
▪ The teacher was wearing a frown/smile. ▪ I guess I wear my heart on my sleeve. [=show my emotions in an obvious way] 3 a : to cause (something) to become thinner, weaker, etc., because of continued use over time — used as (be) worn ▪ The carpet was badly worn in some areas.
b : to cause (something) to form gradually because of use
▪ He wore a hole in his pants. ▪ A path had been worn into the grass. 4 somewhat formal : to make (someone) very tired
▪ soldiers worn by the strain of war
▪ He was wearing blue jeans. ▪ She wore a red blouse to work. ▪ White coats are often worn by doctors.
b : to use or have (something) on your body
▪ I don't wear glasses. ▪ He doesn't wear a watch. ▪ Are you wearing perfume? ▪ a badge worn by police officers ▪ Were you wearing a seat belt?
c : to grow or arrange (your hair) in a particular way
▪ She wears her hair in a ponytail. ▪ I used to wear my hair long. ▪ He wears [=has] a beard now.
▪ The teacher was wearing a frown/smile. ▪ I guess I wear my heart on my sleeve. [=show my emotions in an obvious way]
b : to cause (something) to form gradually because of use
▪ He wore a hole in his pants. ▪ A path had been worn into the grass.
▪ soldiers worn by the strain of war
wear away [phrasal verb]
wear away or wear (something) away or wear away (something) : to gradually disappear or to cause (something) to gradually disappear or become thinner, smaller, etc., because of use
▪ The paint on the sign had worn away. ▪ Even a trickle of water will eventually wear rock away. — often used as (be) worn away ▪ The table's finish was worn away.
▪ The paint on the sign had worn away. ▪ Even a trickle of water will eventually wear rock away. — often used as (be) worn away ▪ The table's finish was worn away.
wear down [phrasal verb]
wear (someone) down or wear down (someone) 1 : to make (someone) tired or weak
▪ The pressure at home and at work was wearing her down. 2 : to convince (someone) to do what you want by trying again and again
▪ She pleaded until she had worn her parents down and they agreed to let her go to the party.
▪ The pressure at home and at work was wearing her down.
▪ She pleaded until she had worn her parents down and they agreed to let her go to the party.
wear many hats — see hat
wear off [phrasal verb]
: to gradually decrease, disappear, or stop
▪ The painkillers wore off [=stopped having an effect; stopped decreasing or removing pain] after a couple of hours. ▪ The shine on the leather will wear off pretty quickly. [=the leather will no longer be shiny after a short time] ▪ After you drive a new car for a while, the novelty wears off. [=it is no longer exciting or new]
▪ The painkillers wore off [=stopped having an effect; stopped decreasing or removing pain] after a couple of hours. ▪ The shine on the leather will wear off pretty quickly. [=the leather will no longer be shiny after a short time] ▪ After you drive a new car for a while, the novelty wears off. [=it is no longer exciting or new]
wear on [phrasal verb] 1 wear on (someone) : to annoy or bother (someone)
▪ Their constant talking was wearing on me. 2 : to continue in a way that seems slow
▪ As their visit wore on [=dragged on] she started hinting that it was time to leave. ▪ as the day wore on
▪ Their constant talking was wearing on me.
▪ As their visit wore on [=dragged on] she started hinting that it was time to leave. ▪ as the day wore on
wear out [phrasal verb] 1 wear (someone) out or wear out (someone) : to make (someone) tired
▪ All that work in the yard yesterday really wore me out. ▪ She was worn out [=exhausted] from exercising. 2 wear out or wear (something) out or wear out (something) : to become thinner, weaker, or no longer useful because of use or to cause (something) to become thinner, weaker, or no longer useful because of use
▪ The tires wore out after 60,000 miles. ▪ You'll wear out your shoes doing that. — often used as (be) worn out ▪ The tape is worn out.
▪ All that work in the yard yesterday really wore me out. ▪ She was worn out [=exhausted] from exercising.
▪ The tires wore out after 60,000 miles. ▪ You'll wear out your shoes doing that. — often used as (be) worn out ▪ The tape is worn out.
wear out your welcome — see 4welcome
wear the pants (US) or Brit wear the trousers
: to be the leader : to make decisions for a group of people
▪ She wears the pants [=she is in charge] in that family.
▪ She wears the pants [=she is in charge] in that family.
wear thin 1 : to become weak or ineffective
▪ I'd been waiting almost an hour, and my patience was wearing thin. [=I was losing patience; I was beginning to get annoyed/upset] 2 : to become ineffective or uninteresting because of being too familiar or used too often
▪ The comedy's plot relies on a case of mistaken identity, but the joke wears thin. ▪ His charm is beginning to wear thin. 3 : to become thin because of use
▪ The rug by the door is wearing thin and needs to be replaced.
▪ I'd been waiting almost an hour, and my patience was wearing thin. [=I was losing patience; I was beginning to get annoyed/upset]
▪ The comedy's plot relies on a case of mistaken identity, but the joke wears thin. ▪ His charm is beginning to wear thin.
▪ The rug by the door is wearing thin and needs to be replaced.
wear through [phrasal verb]
wear through (something) or wear (something) through : to use (something) so much that a hole develops in it
▪ I've worn through two pairs of work shoes since I started this job.
▪ I've worn through two pairs of work shoes since I started this job.
wear well 1 : to remain in good condition after being used
▪ The floor wears well even in high traffic areas. 2 informal + humorous : to look younger than you are
▪ For 70, she's wearing well.
▪ The floor wears well even in high traffic areas.
▪ For 70, she's wearing well.
— wear·er noun, plural wear·ers [count]
▪ Some clothes look good on some wearers but not others.
▪ Some clothes look good on some wearers but not others.
