What Does “wear sth out” Mean?
“Wear something out” means to use an object so much that it becomes damaged or unusable.
Introduction
The phrasal verb wear sth out is commonly used in everyday English. It describes the process of something becoming old or broken because of frequent use. Understanding the wear sth out meaning helps learners talk about objects that no longer work well or look good. This phrase is useful when discussing clothes, shoes, tools, or even ideas that have lost their value through constant use. Learning how to use “wear sth out” correctly will improve your speaking and writing skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: wear something out
- Type: Transitive
- Level: A2-B1 (Elementary to Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To use something until it is no longer useful
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Wear sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between “wear” and “out” or after the whole phrase.
- Wear + object + out (e.g., I wore my shoes out.)
- Wear out + object (e.g., I wore out my shoes.)
Note: If the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.
- Correct: I wore them out.
- Incorrect: I wore out them.
How to Use wear sth out?
Use “wear sth out” when talking about items that get damaged from constant use. It often refers to clothes, shoes, or tools but can also apply to things like patience or energy in a figurative sense. The phrase is usually in the past tense because it describes something that has already happened.
Examples
Here are some examples to show how you can use wear sth out in a sentence naturally:
- My old sneakers finally wore out after two years of daily running.
- She wore out her favorite jeans because she wore them every day.
- The kids wore out the carpet with their constant playing.
- He wore himself out working late every night last week.
- We need to buy new gloves because the old ones are worn out.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the wrong pronouns with “wear sth out”.
- Incorrect: I wore out it.
- Correct: I wore it out.
- Incorrect: She wear out her shoes.
- Correct: She wore out her shoes.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include use up and run down. However, “use up” means to consume all of something (like food or fuel), while “wear sth out” means to damage or ruin by use.
- Wear sth out: The shoes are no longer usable because of wear.
- Use up: I used up all the milk.
- Run down: A battery or machine losing power or energy.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects paired with “wear out”:
- Shoes: To damage shoes by walking or running
- Clothes: To make clothes old and torn
- Car tires: To use tires until they are unsafe
- Tools: To break tools from heavy use
- Patience: Figurative use, meaning to lose patience
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of wear sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “wear sth out”:
Anna: Your jacket looks old. Have you had it for a long time?
Ben: Yes, I’ve worn it out completely. It’s time to buy a new one.
Anna: I know what you mean. I wore out my last coat last winter.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “wear sth out”:
- She ________ her running shoes after training every day.
- The kids ________ the carpet by jumping on it.
- He ________ himself ________ working too hard last month.
Answers:
- wore out
- wore out
- wore out
FAQ
- What does “wear sth out” mean? It means to use something so much that it becomes damaged or unusable.
- Is “wear sth out” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “wear” and “out” or after the phrase.
- Can “wear sth out” be used figuratively? Yes, it can describe emotional or physical exhaustion.
- What is the difference between “wear out” and “use up”? “Wear out” means to damage by use, “use up” means to consume completely.
- Can I say “wear out it”? No, the correct form is “wear it out.”
