worn
wawn
Worn (adj) means Damaged, thin, or shabby from long use. Example: “The worn carpet by the front door had gone almost threadbare.”
adj
1
Damaged, thin, or shabby from long use.
"The worn carpet by the front door had gone almost threadbare."
"The stairs had worn grooves from decades of foot traffic."
"He wore a pair of worn, comfortable jeans."
2
Exhausted or drained, whether physically or emotionally.
"After three nights without proper sleep, the young parents felt thoroughly worn."
"He sounded worn and tired when he finally rang home."
"She looked worn after the long shift."
How to use worn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShowing the effects of long use or exhaustion.
Common pairings
worn out
well-worn
worn thin
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like worn.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more worn
- Superlative
- most worn
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ carpet by the front door had gone almost threadbare.
Etymology
The past participle of "wear," shaped by analogy with similar verbs like "tear" (torn) and "swear" (sworn).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for worn
See all rhymes for worn →Frequently asked questions
What does “worn” mean?
The word “worn” means damaged, thin, or shabby from long use. In plain terms, showing the effects of long use or exhaustion.
How do you pronounce “worn”?
“Worn” is pronounced wawn (/wɔɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “worn” in a sentence?
Here is “worn” used in a sentence: “The stairs had worn grooves from decades of foot traffic.”
What part of speech is “worn”?
“Worn” is an adjective.
Is “worn” a common word?
“Worn” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “worn” have?
“Worn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: damaged, thin, or shabby from long use.
What is the difference between "worn" and "worn out"?
Worn describes something damaged, thin or shabby from long use, or a person who is tired. Worn out is more emphatic, meaning completely used up and no longer serviceable, or utterly exhausted.
When should you use "worn" to describe a person?
Besides describing objects, worn can mean exhausted or drained, whether physically or emotionally, as in "she looked worn after the long shift." Used this way it suggests visible signs of strain or tiredness.
Is "worn" the same as the past participle of "wear"?
Worn is the past participle of the verb "wear," used in forms like "has worn" or "was worn." The adjective senses of shabby or exhausted developed from this, describing the result of long wearing or hard use.
What is the difference between "worn" and "weary"?
Both can describe tiredness, but weary points to the feeling of being tired or fatigued, while worn suggests being drained by prolonged strain and can also describe worn-down objects. Worn often implies visible wear, whereas weary focuses on the inner feeling.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include worn:
