Meaning & use
I'm tired
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
I feel the need to rest or sleep because I have been active or awake for a long time.
Grammar: A fixed phrase used as a complete sentence; 'tired' is an adjective describing the speaker.
Patterns
- be tired
- I'm tired
I'm tired—I think I'll go to bed early tonight.
After the long hike, I was really tired.
She's tired because she didn't sleep well last night.
phrasefixed phrase
I am bored or annoyed with something because I have experienced it too much.
Grammar: Used with 'of' followed by a noun or -ing form: 'I'm tired of waiting'.
Patterns
- be tired of something
- be tired of doing something
I'm tired of hearing the same song over and over.
He's tired of his job and wants a change.
I'm tired of arguing about this.
Common combinations
- tired of something
- I'm tired of all this noise.
- tired from doing something
- She was tired from working all day.
- too tired to do something
- I'm too tired to cook dinner tonight.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exhausted
- Much stronger than 'tired'; it means extremely tired, with no energy left.
- sleepy
- Means ready to fall asleep, often because it is late or you are relaxed; it is not the same as being physically tired from activity.
- weary
- More formal or literary; it suggests tiredness after a long period of effort or difficulty.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: I'm tired or tried?
I'm tired vs tried
Past tense of 'try'; it sounds similar to 'tired' but has a completely different meaning. 'I tried' means I attempted something.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
When you mean you are bored or annoyed with something, use 'tired of' + noun or -ing form. 'Tired of waiting' is correct. Option A uses the base form 'wait' instead of the -ing form. Option C uses 'to wait', which is not used with 'tired' in this meaning. Option D uses 'for', which is not correct here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “I'm tired”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.