wear out

What it means

To use something so much that it becomes damaged, thin, or unusable, or to make someone extremely tired. It can describe both physical objects and people who are exhausted.

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Examples

• I've worn out three pairs of running shoes this year alone.
• Looking after the twins all day completely wears me out.
• These jeans are starting to wear out at the knees.
• The long flight and time difference really wore her out.

Where it comes from

Separable: 'wear them out' or 'wear out my shoes'. The adjective 'worn-out' (often hyphenated) describes both tired people and broken items.

Related phrasal verbs