# wore

/ˈwɔɹ/ (US) · /wˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wore
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. past tense of wear (damage)

verb · CEFR B2

the past tense of 'wear' when it means to become thin or damaged over time.

For teachers: the simple past tense of 'wear' in the sense of gradual deterioration or erosion through constant use or friction.

- The old stone steps wore down after many years of people walking on them.
- The constant friction of the tide eventually wore a smooth channel through the limestone cliffs over several centuries ago.

## Examples

- She wore a bright red dress to the party yesterday.
- He wore a look of total confusion when the teacher started explaining the complex math problem.
- The ancient stone steps were smooth because thousands of pilgrims wore them down over several centuries of constant use.

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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.