English Reference
adjective · verb

weary

adj. · v.
US /ˈwɪɹi/ UK /wˈiəɹi/ weary UK spelling wearied, wearies

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.very tired, especially after working hard or travelling for a long time.

    adj.physically exhausted or fatigued as a result of prolonged exertion or toil.

    Simple

    The weary hikers finally reached the camp after walking for ten hours.

    In context

    After a double shift at the hospital, the weary nurse could barely find the energy to drive home safely.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    adj.having no more patience or interest in something because you have done it too much.

    adj.having one's patience or enthusiasm exhausted by persistence or repetition.

    Simple

    She was weary of the constant rain and dreamed of a sunny holiday.

    In context

    The electorate had grown weary of the candidate's repetitive slogans and empty promises during the long campaign.

    Usage

    often used with the preposition 'of'

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Literary

    v.to start feeling tired, or to make someone else feel tired.

    v.to exhaust the strength or patience of; to become fatigued or impatient.

    Simple

    The long journey began to weary the children, who soon fell asleep.

    In context

    He never seemed to weary of his research, spending fourteen hours a day in the archives without complaint.

    Usage

    functions as both a transitive and intransitive verb

Even the man with a dustbin on his head looked weary.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

From Middle English wery, weri, from Old English wēriġ (“weary”), from Proto-West Germanic wōrīg, wōrag (“weary”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian wuurich (“weary, tired”), West Frisian wurch (“tired”), Dutch dialectal wurrig (“exhausted”), Old Saxon wōrig (“weary”), Old High German wōrag, wuarag (“drunken”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gmw-pro *wōrīg
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated