Meaning & use

wear out

verb·Everyday

To become damaged, thin, or unusable after being used repeatedly over time.

See it in a sentence

The soles of his running shoes wore out after months of daily jogging.

Constant use will wear out even the sturdiest phone charger eventually.

A note on using this word

Wear out can also describe exhausting a person, as in 'the long shift wore her out.'

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To exhaust someone's energy or patience through prolonged effort or activity.

Chasing after two toddlers all day really wore out the babysitter.

Make it your own

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