wear down
B2Neutral to Informal (more common in speech than formal writing)
Definition
Meaning
To gradually reduce or erode something, making it weaker, thinner, or less effective through persistent use, pressure, or friction.
To gradually overcome resistance or opposition through persistent effort; to exhaust someone's patience, energy, or resolve.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrasal verb has both a literal/physical meaning (erosion of material) and a figurative/psychological meaning (erosion of resistance or spirit). It implies a slow, cumulative process rather than sudden change.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use it identically.
Connotations
Neutral; can carry a slightly negative connotation (suggesting tedious or relentless effort) in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and frequent in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] wears down [Object].[Subject] wears [Object] down.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to wear someone down to a nub”
- “a war of attrition (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe gradual market entry, negotiation tactics, or employee burnout. 'Our persistent customer service finally wore down their initial refusal.'
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, or political science to describe erosion of social norms, political will, or psychological resilience.
Everyday
Common for discussing physical objects (shoes, furniture) and interpersonal dynamics (nagging, children's repeated requests).
Technical
Used in engineering and geology to describe material fatigue, abrasion, or erosion processes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The constant rain will wear down the stone steps over centuries.
- Don't let their complaints wear you down; stick to your decision.
American English
- These cheap tires wear down really fast on rough roads.
- Her strategy was to wear down the negotiators with endless minor points.
adjective
British English
- Worn-down heels are a common sight on London's pavements.
- He had a worn-down look after months of campaigning.
American English
- She replaced the worn-down brake pads on her car.
- His worn-down patience finally snapped.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My shoes are wearing down. I need new ones.
- Children can wear down their parents with too many questions.
- The wind and rain slowly wore down the old castle walls.
- If you keep asking, you'll eventually wear him down and he'll say yes.
- The opposition's relentless criticism began to wear down the government's popularity.
- Years of financial stress had worn her down emotionally.
- The lawyer's meticulous cross-examination was designed to wear down the witness's credibility.
- Geological processes wear down mountains into hills over millions of years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a stone step with a path worn down in the middle from thousands of footsteps. The constant repetition literally 'wears' the stone 'down'.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESISTANCE IS A SOLID BARRIER; PERSISTENCE IS FRICTION (persistent pressure can erode a barrier over time).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as simply 'изнашивать', which focuses more on the physical. For figurative use, 'изматывать' or 'подрывать' (resolve/energy) is closer. Do not confuse with 'wear out' (which implies complete exhaustion or failure).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'wear down' with 'wear out'. 'Wear down' is a gradual process; 'wear out' is the endpoint of being unusable. Incorrect: *'My phone battery is worn down.' Correct: '...worn out.' Incorrect use of preposition: *'worn down from' is less common than 'worn down by'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'wear down' CORRECTLY in a figurative sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Wear down' describes the gradual process of erosion or reduction. 'Wear out' describes the final result when something is completely exhausted, unusable, or threadbare. You 'wear down' a pencil, and eventually it is 'worn out'.
Yes. Transitive: 'The waves wore down the cliff.' Intransitive: 'The tyres are wearing down quickly.' The figurative use is almost always transitive ('It wore me down').
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'The stress wore down his resolve' or 'The stress wore his resolve down.' The pronoun must go in the middle: 'It wore him down.'
Not directly. The related concept is 'attrition' (a wearing down through persistent attack) or 'erosion'. The adjective is 'worn-down' (hyphenated when before a noun).