wearing

The word “wearing” means causing tiredness or straining one's patience. In plain terms, tiring or draining, or the physical act of erosion from use.

“Wearing” is pronounced WEH-uh-rihng (/ˈwɛɹɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “wearing” used in a sentence: “The long negotiations were wearing on everyone.”

Depending on how it is used, “wearing” can be an adjective and a noun.

“Wearing” is a very common word in modern English.

“Wearing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing tiredness or straining one's patience.

When used as an adjective, wearing describes something that gradually tires you out or tests your patience. A wearing day, journey, or conversation slowly drains your energy or goodwill. It suggests steady strain rather than a single shock, like being worn down bit by bit over time.

Both describe things that cause fatigue, but wearing carries a stronger sense of ongoing strain, often on patience as well as energy. Tiring simply means it makes you physically or mentally weary. A tiring walk leaves you sleepy; a wearing situation slowly grinds you down and frays your nerves.

You might say 'the constant noise was wearing' or 'caring for a sick relative can be wearing over time'. In each case, wearing shows that the situation steadily drained energy or patience. The word often pairs with long or repeated experiences rather than brief, one-off events.

No. These are different uses of the word. As an adjective, wearing means tiring or straining, as in 'a wearing week'. The verb 'wearing' means having clothes on, as in 'wearing a coat'. They share the same spelling but express very different ideas, so context makes the meaning clear.