weary
B2Formal to neutral; common in literary and descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a result of exertion or lack of sleep.
Feeling or showing a lack of enthusiasm for or patience with something, often after prolonged experience; to become tired of or bored with something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, it describes a deep, often prolonged state of tiredness or disillusionment. As a verb (often with 'of'), it describes the process of becoming tired of something. It implies a more profound, often mental or emotional fatigue than simple 'tiredness'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The verb form 'to weary of' is slightly more common in British literary usage.
Connotations
Slightly more literary or formal in both varieties, but fully understood and used.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj] weary (from/with something)[V] weary of something/doing somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Weary Willie (archaic term for a tramp)”
- “weary the sun with talking (poetic, to talk until sunset)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in metaphorical contexts: 'Investors grew weary of the company's repeated delays.'
Academic
Used in literary analysis, history, or social sciences to describe collective fatigue: 'a populace weary of conflict'.
Everyday
Common for describing deep tiredness or loss of patience: 'I'm weary of this constant rain.'
Technical
Not used in technical senses.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She began to weary of his constant complaints.
- The audience wearied of the lengthy speeches.
American English
- He wearied of the endless political debates.
- Don't weary your grandmother with too many questions.
adverb
British English
- He smiled wearily, knowing the work was not yet done.
American English
- She sighed wearily and sat down.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children were weary after playing all day.
- His weary face showed he had not slept well.
- After years of commuting, she had grown weary of the daily train journey.
- The diplomat, weary of the intractable negotiations, privately contemplated resignation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a long, WINDY (sounds like 'wee-ry') road that makes you very tired from walking.
Conceptual Metaphor
FATIGUE IS A BURDEN (to be weighed down with weariness); LACK OF INTEREST IS FATIGUE (to be weary of something).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'worry' (беспокоиться).
- Do not translate as 'старый' (old). The closest is 'усталый', but with a nuance of prolonged mental strain.
- The verb 'to weary of' is best translated as 'устать от (чего-либо)' or 'пресытиться'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'weary' to mean 'wary' (cautious). *'I'm weary of strangers.' (Incorrect if meaning 'cautious').
- Using it for short-term, light tiredness: *'I'm weary after a short walk.' (Use 'tired' instead).
- Misspelling as 'wery' or 'weery'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'weary' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Tired' is general. 'Weary' suggests a deeper, more prolonged fatigue, often mental or emotional, or a loss of patience.
Yes, meaning 'to become weary' or 'to cause to become weary'. It is often followed by 'of' (e.g., 'weary of waiting').
It is more common in formal and literary contexts than in casual speech, where 'tired' or 'fed up' is often used. However, it is not overly formal.
They are often confused. 'Weary' means tired. 'Wary' means cautious or suspicious (e.g., 'wary of strangers').
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