wear
weh-uh
Wear (verb) means to have clothing, jewellery, or an accessory on one's body. Example: “Do I have to wear a tie to the wedding?”
verb
1
To have clothing, jewellery, or an accessory on one's body.
"Do I have to wear a tie to the wedding?"
"She always wears a scarf in winter."
"He wore a nervous smile all through the interview."
2
To gradually damage or erode something through repeated use or friction.
"Heavy rain can wear away the soft rock along the cliff."
"The stone steps had worn smooth after centuries of footsteps."
"Constant rubbing will wear a hole in the elbows of that jumper."
3
To last, or hold up, under continued use.
"Cheap plastic toys do not usually wear well with small children."
"This fabric wears well even after years of washing."
"Good leather boots wear well if you look after them properly."
noun
1
Clothing, especially of a particular type.
"The children's wear section is on the second floor, next to the toys."
"She bought some new evening wear for the party."
"The shop specializes in outdoor wear."
How to use wear
Learner’s notesIn 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."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
wear out
wear off
wear thin
everyday wear
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- wears
- Past tense
- wore, ware, worn, worne, weared
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Do I have to _____ a tie to the wedding?
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wear
See all rhymes for wear →Frequently asked questions
What does “wear” mean?
The word “wear” means to have clothing, jewellery, or an accessory on one's body. In plain terms, to have clothes on, or for something to erode/hold up over time with use.
How do you pronounce “wear”?
“Wear” is pronounced weh-uh (/wɛ(ə)ɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wear” in a sentence?
Here is “wear” used in a sentence: “She always wears a scarf in winter.”
What part of speech is “wear”?
Depending on how it is used, “wear” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “wear” come from?
The word “wear” comes from Old English. 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.".
Is “wear” a common word?
“Wear” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “wear” have?
“Wear” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to have clothing, jewellery, or an accessory on one's body.
What is the difference between wear and put on?
"Put on" describes the action of dressing, the moment you place clothing onto your body. "Wear" describes the ongoing state of having it on. You put on a coat, then wear it all day. One is a brief action; the other is a continuous condition.
What is the past tense of wear?
The past tense of "wear" is "wore," and the past participle is "worn." So you might say "I wear it today, I wore it yesterday, and I have worn it many times." It is an irregular verb, so the forms don't follow the usual "-ed" pattern.
Can you wear jewellery and accessories, not just clothes?
Yes. "Wear" applies to anything you have on your body, including jewellery, watches, glasses, hats, badges, and bags. It even extends to things like perfume or a particular hairstyle. Anything you carry on or about your person in this way can be described as something you wear.
What is an example of wear?
"She wears a silver ring on her right hand" and "he wore a suit to the interview" both show the everyday sense of having clothing or jewellery on the body. You can wear a hat, a watch, glasses, or a uniform, anything worn on or about the person.
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