wear out

Meaning

This phrasal verb has two main meanings. It can mean to use something so much that it becomes damaged, thin, or unusable, or it can mean to make someone extremely tired or exhausted.

Examples

• These cheap shoes are going to wear out in a couple of months.

  These cheap shoes are going to wear out in a couple of months.

• Running after three toddlers all day really wears me out.

  Running after three toddlers all day really wears me out.

• I had to throw my favorite jeans away because the knees had worn out.

  I had to throw my favorite jeans away because the knees had worn out.

• Don't wear yourself out working such long hours every day.

  Don't wear yourself out working such long hours every day.

• The carpet in the hallway is starting to wear out from all the foot traffic.

  The carpet in the hallway is starting to wear out from all the foot traffic.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am very wore out after the hike.

  ✓ I am very worn out after the hike.

  Use the past participle 'worn' when describing a state of exhaustion, not the past simple 'wore'.

• ✗ The tires of my car got expired.

  ✓ The tires of my car wore out.

  'Expire' is used for dates or contracts. For physical objects that degrade through use, use 'wear out'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you walk that much every day, you will ___ your sneakers quickly.

  💡 damage them through heavy use

  Show answer

  wear out

• The long flight and the jet lag completely ___ me ___.

  💡 made me extremely tired (past tense)

  Show answer

  wore / out