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Wear vs. Worn — What's the Difference?

Wear vs. Worn — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Wear and Worn

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Wear

Wear is the damaging, gradual removal or deformation of material at solid surfaces. Causes of wear can be mechanical (e.g., erosion) or chemical (e.g., corrosion).

Worn

Past participle of wear.

Wear

To carry or have on one's person as covering, adornment, or protection
Wearing a jacket.
Must wear a seat belt.

Worn

Affected or damaged by wear or use
The worn pockets on a jacket.

Wear

To carry or have habitually on one's person, especially as an aid
Wears glasses.
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Worn

Showing the wearing effects of overwork, worry, or suffering
A pale, worn face.

Wear

To display in one's appearance
Always wears a smile.

Worn

Damaged and shabby as a result of much use.

Wear

To bear, carry, or maintain in a particular manner
Wears her hair long.

Worn

; exhausted.

Wear

To fly or display (colors). Used of a ship, jockey, or knight.

Worn

Past participle of wear

Wear

To damage, diminish, erode, or consume by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure. Often used with away, down, or off
Rocks worn away by the sea.
Shoes worn down at the heels.

Worn

Affected by wear; damaged by long use;
Worn threads on the screw
A worn suit
The worn pockets on the jacket

Wear

To produce by constant use, attrition, or exposure
Eventually wore hollows in the stone steps.

Worn

Showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering;
Looking careworn as she bent over her mending
Her face was drawn and haggard from sleeplessness
That raddled but still noble face
Shocked to see the worn look of his handsome young face

Wear

To bring to a specified condition by long use or attrition
Wore the clothes to rags.
Pebbles worn smooth.

Wear

To fatigue, weary, or exhaust
Your incessant criticism has worn my patience.

Wear

(Nautical) To make (a sailing ship) come about with the wind aft.

Wear

To last under continual or hard use
A fabric that will wear.

Wear

To last through the passage of time
A friendship that wears well.

Wear

To break down or diminish through use or attrition
The rear tires began to wear.

Wear

To pass gradually or tediously
The hours wore on.

Wear

(Nautical) To come about with stern to windward.

Wear

The act of wearing or the state of being worn; use
This shirt is ideal for wear in sultry climates.

Wear

Clothing, especially of a particular kind or for a particular use. Often used in combination
Rainwear.
Footwear.

Wear

Damage resulting from use or age
The rug shows plenty of wear.

Wear

The ability to withstand impairment from use or attrition
The engine has plenty of wear left.

Wear

To carry or have equipped on or about one's body, as an item of clothing, equipment, decoration, etc.
He's wearing some nice pants today.
She wore her medals with pride.
Please wear your seatbelt.
Can you wear makeup and sunscreen at {{the same time?
}} He was wearing his lunch after tripping and falling into the buffet.

Wear

To have or carry on one's person habitually, consistently; or, to maintain in a particular fashion or manner.
He wears eyeglasses.
She wears her hair in braids.

Wear

To bear or display in one's aspect or appearance.
She wore a smile all day.
He walked out of the courtroom wearing an air of satisfaction.

Wear

To overcome one's reluctance and endure a (previously specified) situation.
I know you don't like working with him, but you'll just have to wear it.

Wear

To eat away at, erode, diminish, or consume gradually; to cause a gradual deterioration in; to produce (some change) through attrition, exposure, or constant use.
You're going to wear a hole in the bottom of those shoes.
The water has slowly worn a channel into these rocks.
Long illness had worn the bloom from her cheeks.
Exile had worn the man to a shadow.

Wear

To undergo gradual deterioration; become impaired; be reduced or consumed gradually due to any continued process, activity, or use.
The tiles were wearing thin due to years of children's feet.

Wear

To exhaust, fatigue, expend, or weary.
His neverending criticism has finally worn my patience.
Toil and care soon wear the spirit.
Our physical advantage allowed us to wear the other team out and win.

Wear

(intransitive) To last or remain durable under hard use or over time; to retain usefulness, value, or desirable qualities under any continued strain or long period of time; sometimes said of a person, regarding the quality of being easy or difficult to tolerate.
Don't worry, this fabric will wear. These pants will last you for years.
This color wears so well. I must have washed this sweater a thousand times.
I have to say, our friendship has worn pretty well.
It's hard to get to know him, but he wears well.

Wear

(in the phrase "wearing on (someone)") To cause annoyance, irritation, fatigue, or weariness near the point of an exhaustion of patience.
Her high pitched voice is really wearing on me lately.

Wear

To pass slowly, gradually or tediously.
Wear on, wear away.
As the years wore on, we seemed to have less and less in common.

Wear

(nautical) To bring (a sailing vessel) onto the other tack by bringing the wind around the stern (as opposed to tacking when the wind is brought around the bow); to come round on another tack by turning away from the wind. Also written "ware". Past: weared, or wore/worn.

Wear

To guard; watch; keep watch, especially from entry or invasion.

Wear

To defend; protect.

Wear

To ward off; prevent from approaching or entering; drive off; repel.
To wear the wolf from the sheep

Wear

To conduct or guide with care or caution, as into a fold or place of safety.

Wear

(uncountable) (in combination) clothing
Footwear; outdoor wear; maternity wear

Wear

(uncountable) damage to the appearance and/or strength of an item caused by use over time

Wear

(uncountable) fashion

Wear

Same as Weir.

Wear

The act of wearing, or the state of being worn; consumption by use; diminution by friction; as, the wear of a garment.

Wear

The thing worn; style of dress; the fashion.
Motley 's the only wear.

Wear

The result of wearing or use; consumption, diminution, or impairment due to use, friction, or the like; as, the wear of this coat has been good.

Wear

To cause to go about, as a vessel, by putting the helm up, instead of alee as in tacking, so that the vessel's bow is turned away from, and her stern is presented to, the wind, and, as she turns still farther, her sails fill on the other side; to veer.

Wear

To carry or bear upon the person; to bear upon one's self, as an article of clothing, decoration, warfare, bondage, etc.; to have appendant to one's body; to have on; as, to wear a coat; to wear a shackle.
What compass will you wear your farthingale?
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore.

Wear

To have or exhibit an appearance of, as an aspect or manner; to bear; as, she wears a smile on her countenance.
His innocent gestures wearA meaning half divine.

Wear

To use up by carrying or having upon one's self; hence, to consume by use; to waste; to use up; as, to wear clothes rapidly.

Wear

To impair, waste, or diminish, by continual attrition, scraping, percussion, on the like; to consume gradually; to cause to lower or disappear; to spend.
That wicked wight his days doth wear.
The waters wear the stones.

Wear

To cause or make by friction or wasting; as, to wear a channel; to wear a hole.

Wear

To form or shape by, or as by, attrition.
Trials wear us into a liking of what, possibly, in the first essay, displeased us.

Wear

To endure or suffer use; to last under employment; to bear the consequences of use, as waste, consumption, or attrition; as, a coat wears well or ill; - hence, sometimes applied to character, qualifications, etc.; as, a man wears well as an acquaintance.

Wear

To be wasted, consumed, or diminished, by being used; to suffer injury, loss, or extinction by use or time; to decay, or be spent, gradually.
Away, I say; time wears.
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee.
His stock of money began to wear very low.
The family . . . wore out in the earlier part of the century.

Wear

Impairment resulting from long use;
The tires showed uneven wear

Wear

A covering designed to be worn on a person's body

Wear

The act of having on your person as a covering or adornment;
She bought it for everyday wear

Wear

Be dressed in;
She was wearing yellow that day

Wear

Have on one's person;
He wore a red ribbon
Bear a scar

Wear

Have in one's aspect; wear an expression of one's attitude or personality;
He always wears a smile

Wear

Deteriorate through use or stress;
The constant friction wore out the cloth

Wear

Have or show an appearance of;
Wear one's hair in a certain way

Wear

Last and be usable;
This dress wore well for almost ten years

Wear

Go to pieces;
The lawn mower finally broke
The gears wore out
The old chair finally fell apart completely

Wear

Exhaust or tire through overuse or great strain or stress;
We wore ourselves out on this hike

Wear

Put clothing on one's body;
What should I wear today?
He put on his best suit for the wedding
The princess donned a long blue dress
The queen assumed the stately robes
He got into his jeans

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