weary
WEER-ree
Weary (adj) means Very tired, physically or mentally. Example: “The weary travelers finally reached the inn at midnight.”
adj
1
Very tired, physically or mentally.
"The weary travelers finally reached the inn at midnight."
"After the long walk, the weary child fell asleep in the car."
"She gave a weary sigh and sat down at her desk."
2
Having lost patience or interest in something because of overexposure to it.
"Voters grew weary of the same broken promises."
"I'm weary of hearing the same excuses every single week."
"The audience grew weary of the long, repetitive speech."
verb
1
To make or become tired.
"The endless meetings would weary anyone."
"Long drives weary me, so I always stop for a rest."
"Too much travelling can weary even the keenest explorer."
How to use weary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExhausted, or fed up with something after too much of it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
weary of
weary traveler
grow weary
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- wearies
- Past tense
- wearied
- Comparative
- wearier
- Superlative
- weariest
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The _____ travelers finally reached the inn at midnight.
Etymology
From Old English wēriġ, a Germanic word for exhaustion, distantly related to words in Old Saxon and Old High German for "weary" or "drunken."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for weary
See all rhymes for weary →Frequently asked questions
What does “weary” mean?
The word “weary” means very tired, physically or mentally. In plain terms, exhausted, or fed up with something after too much of it.
How do you pronounce “weary”?
“Weary” is pronounced WEER-ree (/ˈwɪɚi/ in IPA).
How do you use “weary” in a sentence?
Here is “weary” used in a sentence: “The weary travelers finally reached the inn at midnight.”
What part of speech is “weary”?
Depending on how it is used, “weary” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “weary” come from?
The word “weary” comes from Old English. From Old English wēriġ, a Germanic word for exhaustion, distantly related to words in Old Saxon and Old High German for "weary" or "drunken.".
Is “weary” a common word?
“Weary” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “weary” have?
“Weary” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very tired, physically or mentally.
What is the difference between weary and tired?
Weary describes being very tired, physically or mentally, often after prolonged effort, and it can also mean having lost patience or interest in something through overexposure. Tired is a more neutral, general term for fatigue without necessarily implying that duration or repetition caused it.
What preposition follows weary, weary of or weary from?
Weary is commonly followed by "of" when describing loss of patience or interest, as in "weary of the arguments," and by "from" when describing physical exhaustion, as in "weary from travel."
Can weary be used as a verb?
Yes, to weary means to make or become tired, as in "the long journey wearied the travelers." This verb use is somewhat more formal or literary than simply saying someone "got tired."
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