Irregular verbs  Regular verbs

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wear, wears, wearing, worn, wore

Synonyms: don, sport, dress in, put on, have on

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Antonyms: remove, take off, undress, doff, disrobe

The Verb Wear – Definition, Usage, and Clarification


The verb wear is a common irregular verb. Its primary meaning is to have clothing, jewelry, or other items on your body. Its secondary meaning is to damage, erode, or diminish something through continuous use.


VERB FORMS


■ Base Form: wear
■ Past Simple: wore
■ Past Participle: worn
■ Present Participle/Gerund: wearing


USAGE AND CONTEXT


'Wear' is used for things on the body and for the process of gradual damage.


1. Having on the Body
This refers to clothing, accessories, makeup, hairstyles, etc.


■ Clothing: 'She is wearing a beautiful red dress.'
■ Accessories: 'He always wears a watch.'


2. Damage from Use (Erosion)
This refers to something becoming weaker or thinner from friction or age.


■ Erosion: 'The constant flow of water has worn the stones smooth.'
■ Damage: 'The pattern on the old rug has worn away in the middle.'


ℹ IMPORTANT: PHRASAL VERBS AND 'WORN'


■ Phrasal Verb 'Wear out': This has two common meanings:
■ 1. To use something so much that it becomes damaged and unusable. ('My running shoes are completely worn out.')
■ 2. To make someone feel extremely tired. ('The long day of hiking really wore me out.')


■ 'Worn' as an Adjective: The past participle 'worn' is frequently used as an adjective to describe something that looks old and damaged from use.
■ Example: 'He was sitting in a comfortable, worn armchair.'