tire
TEYE-uh
Also spelled tyre (UK spelling)
Tire (verb) means to become weary or worn out; to lose energy. Example: “Children never seem to tire when there is a playground nearby.”
verb
1
To become weary or worn out; to lose energy.
"Children never seem to tire when there is a playground nearby."
"The runners began to tire as the hill got steeper."
"She began to tire after the third hour of hiking."
2
To make someone weary or worn out.
"The journey across the city tired the little boy out completely."
"Looking after three toddlers all day tires me more than my office job."
"The long meeting tired everyone in the room."
3
To grow bored or impatient with something over time.
"She tired of waiting for a reply and decided to call him."
"Cats can tire of a new toy within a few days."
"He soon tired of the same routine every day."
How to use tire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo become or make exhausted, or to grow fed up with something.
UK vs US
The rubber wheel covering is spelled "tyre" in British English but "tire" in American English — this word ("to tire") is unrelated in origin but identical in American spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tire of
tire out
never tire of
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Word forms
- Plural
- tires
- Third person singular
- tires
- Past tense
- tired
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Children never seem to _____ when there is a playground nearby.
Etymology
From Old English tȳrian/tēorian, "to fail, grow weary," of uncertain deeper origin.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tire
See all rhymes for tire →Frequently asked questions
What does “tire” mean?
The word “tire” means to become weary or worn out; to lose energy. In plain terms, to become or make exhausted, or to grow fed up with something.
How do you pronounce “tire”?
“Tire” is pronounced TEYE-uh (/ˈtaɪ̯ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tire” in a sentence?
Here is “tire” used in a sentence: “She began to tire after the third hour of hiking.”
What is another word for “tire”?
Words with a similar meaning to “tire” include beleaguer, exhaust, fatigue, do for, fordo and gas out.
What part of speech is “tire”?
“Tire” is a verb.
Where does the word “tire” come from?
The word “tire” comes from Old English. From Old English tȳrian/tēorian, "to fail, grow weary," of uncertain deeper origin.
Is “tire” a common word?
“Tire” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “tire” have?
“Tire” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to become weary or worn out; to lose energy.
What is the difference between tire and tyre?
In American English, tire covers both the verb meaning to become weary and the rubber covering of a wheel. British English separates them: the verb is spelled tire, but the wheel covering is spelled tyre. So a British driver checks the tyres and an American driver checks the tires, and both tire after a long drive.
What is the difference between tired of and tired from?
Tired of means bored or impatient with something over time, as in "I'm tired of waiting". Tired from means physically weary because of an activity, as in "tired from the long walk". The verb pattern tire of works the same way: to grow weary or bored with something.
What is the difference between tiring and tiresome?
Tiring describes something that makes you physically or mentally weary, such as a tiring journey. Tiresome describes something annoying or tedious that wears down your patience, such as a tiresome argument. A long hike is tiring; a person who repeats the same complaint is tiresome.
What is the difference between tire and tire out?
Tire on its own can mean to grow weary gradually, or to grow bored with something. Tire out is more emphatic and means to exhaust someone completely, as in "the toddlers tired out their grandparents". The phrasal verb is normally used with an object or in the passive, as in "I was tired out".
