wear
A1Neutral (Common in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
to have clothing, accessories, or a particular appearance on one's body.
To use or exhibit; to deteriorate through use or friction; to endure or hold up over time (e.g., 'the fabric wears well').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is highly polysemous, spanning physical action (putting on clothes), state (having clothes on), and the process of gradual damage or erosion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Very minor. The past participle 'worn' is universal. In UK, 'wear' can be used slightly more often in the sense of 'tolerate' (colloquial 'I can't wear that!').
Connotations
Largely identical. The noun form related to clothing ('footwear', 'menswear') is equally common in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[wear + NP][wear + Adj] (e.g., wear thin)[wear + Adv] (e.g., wear well)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wear the trousers”
- “wear one's heart on one's sleeve”
- “wear thin”
- “wear and tear”
- “if the cap fits, wear it”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to company dress codes, professional attire, and asset depreciation ('wear and tear').
Academic
Used in materials science (friction, erosion), sociology (fashion as identity).
Everyday
The most common context: discussing clothing, accessories, and appearance.
Technical
In engineering: 'The bearing has started to wear.' In geology: 'Processes that wear down rock.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The wear on the clutch suggests aggressive driving.
- This carpet is designed for heavy wear.
- The shop specialises in casual wear.
American English
- You can see the wear on the engine parts.
- These jeans show a lot of wear.
- The spring collection features evening wear.
verb
British English
- You must wear a tie in the dining room.
- The stone steps had worn smooth over centuries.
- I can't wear that colour, it doesn't suit me.
American English
- He always wears sneakers to work.
- The patience of the committee is wearing thin.
- This jacket has worn well for ten years.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (No direct adjective form. Participle 'wearing' is verbal adjective: 'a wearing day').
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I wear a uniform to school.
- She wears glasses to read.
- What are you wearing to the party?
- You'll need to wear something smart for the interview.
- The constant noise is wearing me down.
- The inscription on the coin had worn away.
- He wears his authority lightly, which makes him a popular manager.
- The novelty of the new system quickly wore off.
- The policy is designed to withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
- The chancellor is wary of wearing out his welcome with the public.
- Her constant excuses are wearing a bit thin.
- The fabric, though delicate in appearance, wears remarkably well.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WEAR is what you do with clothes you ARE in. You ARE WEARing them.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A WEARING AGENT (e.g., 'time wore on', 'worn out by worry'). STATES ARE GARMENTS (e.g., 'wear a puzzled look').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'wear' with 'dress'. Russian 'носить' covers both 'wear' and 'carry', leading to errors like *'I wear a bag to school.'
- Using 'put on' (a momentary action) interchangeably with 'wear' (a continuous state).
Common Mistakes
- *I usually wear a coat when I go out. (Correct but overused by learners; natives might say 'I usually put a coat on' or 'I usually have a coat on').
- *She was wearing a baby. (Confusion with 'carrying').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'wear' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Put on' describes the *action* of beginning to wear something. 'Wear' describes the *state* of having it on your body. Example: 'I put on my coat (action) and now I am wearing it (state).'
Yes. You can wear a smile, an expression, perfume, jewellery, glasses, a beard, and even a path (through erosion). It also describes gradual damage or erosion.
It means to become less effective, believable, or tolerable over time. E.g., 'His excuses are wearing thin.' It originates from fabric becoming thin with use.
Yes. The principal parts are: wear (present) -> wore (past simple) -> worn (past participle). 'Worn' is also used as an adjective (e.g., 'worn tires').
Collections
Part of a collection
Colors and Clothes
A1 · 45 words · Colors and common items of clothing.