verb

wear

weh-uh

verb

To have clothing, jewellery, or an accessory on one's body.

"She always wears a scarf in winter."

"He wore a nervous smile all through the interview."

To gradually damage or erode something through repeated use or friction.

"The stone steps had worn smooth after centuries of footsteps."

To last, or hold up, under continued use.

"This fabric wears well even after years of washing."

noun

Clothing, especially of a particular type.

"The shop specializes in outdoor wear."

How to Use Wear

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo have clothes on, or for something to erode/hold up over time with use.

Common mistake

Past tense is "wore," past participle is "worn" — not "weared."

Common pairings

wear out wear off wear thin everyday wear

Word Forms

wore past tense, ware past tense, worn past tense, worne past tense, weared past tense, wore past tense, worn past tense, worne past tense, wears singular, wears singular

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Can you complete this real example?

She always _____ a scarf in winter.

Etymology

From Old English werian ("to clothe, put on"), from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to dress." It was originally a regular verb but became irregular (wear/wore/worn) by analogy with verbs like "bear" and "tear."

Rhymes for wear

ear year dear hear tear bear near fear pear gear rear sear

See all rhymes for wear →