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.
But this satisfaction can be cut short if the string on your weed whacker is worn out or breaks mid-task. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 Most of the books were dog-eared, broken in, and worn out from the years of little hands taking them on and off the shelves. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 30 June 2026 Because clothing is a consumable good that wears out, it can reasonably be evaluated on a unit-price basis, much like cost per use. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 As more of these batteries wear out, finding efficient ways to recycle them is becoming more important. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 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
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Cite this Entry

“Wear out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wear%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on wear out

Nglish: Translation of wear out for Spanish Speakers

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