# wear

/ˈwɛɹ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wear
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to have on your body

verb · CEFR A1

to have clothing, jewellery, or glasses on your body.

For teachers: to carry or have on the body as covering, equipment, or ornament. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- You should wear a warm coat because it is very cold outside.
- The witnesses reported that the suspect was wearing a distinctive navy blazer and dark sunglasses despite the overcast weather.

### 2. to erode or damage

verb · CEFR B1

to become thin or damaged because of constant use.

For teachers: to damage, erode, or consume by long use or exposure. Can be used transitively or intransitively.

- The constant walking started to wear a hole in his favorite socks.
- Years of heavy foot traffic had begun to wear the stone steps of the cathedral into smooth, shallow curves.

### 3. to accept or tolerate

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to accept or agree to an idea or a situation.

For teachers: to accept, tolerate, or 'buy into' a suggestion or excuse. Primarily used in negative constructions.

- I tried to explain why I was late, but the boss wouldn't wear it.
- The committee is unlikely to wear such a radical proposal given the current budgetary constraints and political climate.

### 4. nautical turning

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to turn a sailing ship by moving the back of the boat through the wind.

For teachers: to bring a sailing vessel onto the other tack by bringing the wind around the stern. Contrast with 'tacking', where the bow passes through the wind.

- The captain decided to wear the ship to avoid the approaching storm.
- In heavy seas, the crew found it safer to wear the ship rather than risk a missed stays while attempting to tack.

### 5. damage from use

noun · CEFR B1

the damage that happens to something when it is used a lot.

For teachers: impairment or loss of quality resulting from long use or friction. Often paired with 'tear' in the binomial 'wear and tear'.

- The carpet is showing a lot of wear in the hallway.
- The engineer inspected the engine for signs of excessive wear before certifying the aircraft for its next flight.

### 6. type of clothing

noun · CEFR B1

a specific type of clothing, like clothes for the gym or for children.

For teachers: clothing of a particular kind or for a particular use. Usually appears as the second element in a compound noun.

- The store has a large section for children's wear on the second floor.
- The brand specializes in high-performance active wear designed for professional athletes training in extreme climates.

## Examples

- The tires show a lot of wear after the long trip.
- The carpet in the hallway shows significant wear because it is the main path through the house.
- While the engine remains mechanically sound, the exterior of the vessel exhibits considerable wear from years of exposure to salt spray and harsh maritime conditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.