wear
wear — verb
1. to have something like a shirt, hat, pair of shoes, piece of jewellery, or pair
to have something like a shirt, hat, pair of shoes, piece of jewellery, or pair of glasses against your skin as a covering or decoration
Reuben wore a dark blue suit and a striped tie to the job interview.
Dewi always wears a warm hat when she walks her dog in the park.
always + wear + [item] + for [activity]
The children were told to wear boots and thick coats because it was snowing.
Nia wears glasses for reading, but she does not need them for driving.
Some nurses wear comfortable shoes that help them stand all day at work.
wear + [item] + for [purpose/benefit]
- wear + clothing item
- wear + shoes
- wear + jewellery
- wear + glasses
- wear + uniform
- wear + size
- dress in
more formal or literary; emphasises the act of choosing particular clothes
- have on
informal; focuses on the current state rather than habit
- be dressed in
describes the state with a more complete outfit
Grammar Patterns
wear + clothing/item
wear + well/big/small (intransitive)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 4 (DETERIORATE): this sense is always about having something on your body, never about damage. Also distinguished from the phrasal verb 'put on', which describes the action of dressing rather than the state of already wearing something.
Common Mistakes
2. to let a feeling or attitude be seen in the way your face looks — for instance,
to let a feeling or attitude be seen in the way your face looks — for instance, a smile when you feel happy, or a frown when you are worried
The teacher wore a worried look when she saw the test scores.
wear + a + [look/expression]
Eitan wore a huge smile as he opened the birthday gift from his family.
The general wore a stern expression throughout the whole ceremony.
Lotte wore an expression of pure joy after finishing the marathon race.
wear an expression of + [emotion]
- wear a smile
- wear a frown
- wear an expression of
- wear a look of
- hide
to keep emotions from being seen on the face
Grammar Patterns
wear + a(n) + [expression/look/smile/frown]
Usage Note
Frequently used with adjectives describing emotions (worried, happy, angry, surprised, stern, confused). The subject is always a person, and the object is a facial expression or look.
Common Mistakes
3. to choose a specific way of arranging your hair, beard, or moustache and keep it
to choose a specific way of arranging your hair, beard, or moustache and keep it that way over a period of time
Hao wears his hair very short during the hot summer months.
wear + possessive + hair + adjective
Roya wore her hair in a long braid that reached down to her waist.
Takeshi has worn a neat beard since his university days.
wear + a beard/moustache
The singer started wearing her hair in a bright new colour for each concert tour.
- wear your hair
- wear a beard
- wear a moustache
- wear your hair in a ponytail
- wear your hair short
Grammar Patterns
wear + possessive + hair + [adjective/in a style]
wear + a beard/moustache
Usage Note
Common with 'your hair' plus a description of the style (short, long, in a ponytail, in a bun). Also used for facial hair (beard, moustache). Not used for nails or makeup — those are 'have' or 'apply'.
4. to become thinner, weaker, or less effective over time because of being used, ru
to become thinner, weaker, or less effective over time because of being used, rubbed, or moved continuously
The knees on Reuben's favourite jeans started to wear thin after six months.
wear + thin (intransitive result)
The carpet in the hallway is wearing very quickly because so many feet walk there.
That leather jacket has worn really well over the past fifteen years.
wear well = stay in good condition
The old stone steps had worn completely smooth from centuries of daily use.
- wear thin
- wear well
- wear badly
- wear away
- wear smooth
- wear loose
- deteriorate
more formal; describes gradual decline from any cause, not just use
- degrade
technical; implies a loss of quality or function
- erode
suggests gradual destruction by wind, water, or friction
- last
to remain in good condition over time
Grammar Patterns
wear + [adverb: well/badly/quickly]
wear + [adjective: thin/smooth/loose]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 5 (CAUSE DAMAGE): sense 4 is intransitive — the object itself becomes damaged. Sense 5 is transitive — something causes damage to something else (e.g. 'The rope wore a groove in the post'). Often followed by an adjective complement that describes the result: 'wear thin', 'wear smooth', 'wear loose'.
Common Mistakes
5. to create a hole, mark, or indentation in a surface by continuous rubbing, frict
to create a hole, mark, or indentation in a surface by continuous rubbing, friction, or movement over time
Strong winds had worn a deep hole in the side of the old cliff.
wear + a hole/groove + in [surface]
The constant rubbing of the rope had worn a groove into the wooden post.
Mateo's shoes had worn a thin spot on the sole after his long walking trip.
wear + a [mark/spot] + on [object]
Water dripping from the roof over many years had worn a channel through the stone.
- wear a hole
- wear through
- wear down
- wear away
- wear a groove
- wear a channel
Grammar Patterns
wear + a hole/groove/channel + in/into/through + [surface]
Usage Note
This sense is always transitive and always describes a visible result (hole, groove, channel, dent) produced by friction. The subject is typically a natural force, repeated motion, or the clothing item itself — not a person acting deliberately.
6. to let an excuse, criticism, or suggestion pass without rejecting it, especially
to let an excuse, criticism, or suggestion pass without rejecting it, especially when you are not happy about having to accept it
The manager said he would not wear any more excuses for arriving late.
would not wear + [excuse/reason]
Lauren suggested a new way of working, but the team would not wear the idea.
The teacher told the class she would not wear any more late homework submissions.
would not wear + [unacceptable thing]
We offered to fly earlier, but our friends would not wear the change — rooms were already booked.
- would not wear
- won't wear it
- would not wear that
- accept
neutral and widely used; does not carry the informal British feel of 'wear'
- stand for
phrasal verb, similar informal register; often used in the negative
- put up with
suggests tolerating something unpleasant rather than accepting a remark
- reject
to refuse to accept or consider something
Grammar Patterns
will/would not wear + [excuse/remark/suggestion]
won't wear + it/that
Usage Note
Almost always used in negative constructions with 'will not' or 'would not'. Rarely appears in positive or affirmative sentences. Common in everyday British conversation but not in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
wear away
phrasal verbTo gradually disappear or become thinner through use or friction.
The constant wind and rain wore away the stone steps.
The paint on the old bench has worn away completely.
wear down
phrasal verbTo make something or someone weaker or less effective through continuous pressure.
The long hours of work began to wear down Aiden's energy.
Her constant complaints wore down his patience eventually.
wear off
phrasal verbTo gradually disappear or lose effect over time.
The pain from the injection started to wear off after an hour.
The excitement of winning the prize will wear off soon.
wear on
phrasal verbTo pass slowly, especially in a way that seems tedious or tiring.
As the meeting wore on, Diego struggled to stay awake.
The long winter days wore on without any sign of spring.
wear out
phrasal verbTo become unusable or exhausted through extended use or effort.
After years of use, the tires on the car finally wore out.
The children's constant running around wore out their mother.
If a criticism or comment seems to apply to you, you should accept it.
When Maya said some people are lazy, Diego knew the shoe fit.
If the shoe fits, wear it—you were the one who broke the vase.
To show your emotions openly so others can see them.
Sara wears her heart on her sleeve; everyone knows when she's sad.
Brian doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, so his feelings are hard to read.
wear thin
idiomTo become less effective or acceptable over time.
His constant excuses are beginning to wear thin with the manager.
My patience with the noisy neighbors is wearing very thin.
wear the trousers
idiomTo be the dominant partner in a relationship who makes most decisions.
In their marriage, it's clear that Lisa wears the trousers.
Who wears the trousers in your household, Min?
wear — noun
1. a group of clothes made for a specific activity, season, or social occasion — fo
a group of clothes made for a specific activity, season, or social occasion — for instance, casual wear for everyday life or formal wear for ceremonies
The shop sells casual wear and formal wear for both men and women.
[type] + wear = clothing category
All guests were asked to wear formal wear to the wedding reception.
Sports wear should be made of materials that let the skin breathe during exercise.
The store has a good selection of winter wear including hats and thick gloves.
winter wear / summer wear / evening wear
- casual wear
- formal wear
- sportswear
- evening wear
- winter wear
- business wear
- menswear
Grammar Patterns
[type adjective] + wear
wear + for [purpose]
Usage Note
Commonly found as the second part of compound nouns: 'sportswear', 'formalwear', 'menswear', 'womenswear', 'kidswear', 'nightwear'. These compounds are typically written as one word or two.
Common Mistakes
2. how much an object has been used, or how long it can keep being used before it b
how much an object has been used, or how long it can keep being used before it becomes damaged or stops working well
This sofa has had years of wear but it is still comfortable.
a lot of + wear = amount of use
Good quality walking shoes should give you at least two years of normal wear.
The tyres on the delivery van still have plenty of wear left after driving across the country.
have + plenty of + wear + left
The manufacturer claims the fabric can handle heavy wear without losing its colour.
handle + heavy/normal + wear
- heavy wear
- light wear
- daily wear
- normal wear
- plenty of wear
- wear left
Grammar Patterns
a lot of / plenty of / some + wear
wear + left (in something)
Usage Note
Often paired with adjectives like 'heavy', 'normal', 'light', 'daily' to describe the intensity of use. The phrase 'still has plenty of wear left' is a common positive assessment.
3. the physical damage or visible marks that appear on an object after it has been
the physical damage or visible marks that appear on an object after it has been used for a long time
The wooden floor showed clear signs of wear near the main entrance.
signs of wear
The carpet in the living room has visible wear from years of family use.
Regular oil changes help reduce wear on the car engine and keep it running.
reduce + wear + on [object]
Lotte noticed some wear on the elbow of her jacket where it rubbed the desk.
- signs of wear
- wear and tear
- visible wear
- show wear
- reduce wear
- wear on
- damage
more general; can result from accidents, not just use
- deterioration
more formal; describes gradual decline in condition
- maintenance
actions taken to prevent or repair wear
Grammar Patterns
signs of + wear
wear + and + tear
show + wear
Usage Note
The fixed phrase 'wear and tear' (often 'normal wear and tear') is very common in warranties, insurance, and maintenance contexts. It describes the expected damage from ordinary use that is not caused by accidents or neglect.
Common Mistakes
wear — idiom
1. the name of a river 108 kilometres long in northeast England that travels past D
the name of a river 108 kilometres long in northeast England that travels past Durham city and reaches the sea close to Sunderland
The River Wear flows past Durham Cathedral and into the sea.
Many tourists visit the River Wear to see the old stone bridges.
Salmon can be found swimming up the River Wear during autumn.
proper noun with 'the River [name]'
The River Wear divides the older part of Durham from the newer areas.
Word family
- wearableadjectiveB1
- wearernounB2
- wearingadjectiveB2
- wornadjectiveA2
- worn-outadjectiveB1
- underwearnounA2
- sportswearnounB1
- nightwearnounB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
'Wear' describes the state of having clothes on your body ('She wore a blue dress'), while 'put on' describes the action of getting dressed ('She put on a blue dress'). 'Dress' is broader — it can mean to choose and put on clothes ('He dressed quickly') or describe someone's style ('She dresses well'). 'Have on' is informal and focuses on the current moment ('What do you have on today?'). 'Be in' is very common in conversation for describing outfits ('She was in a black suit'). Use 'wear' for habits and general descriptions; use 'put on' for the moment of dressing; use 'dress' for the overall act or style; use 'have on' or 'be in' for casual, momentary descriptions.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'wear' comes from Old English 'werian', meaning to have clothing on, to carry, or to bear on the body. Its meaning of 'to become damaged through use' developed later from the physical idea of clothing being gradually thinned by friction. The word shares ancient roots with Old Norse 'verja' (to clothe) and Gothic 'wasjan' (to clothe), tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root about covering the body.