What does wear mean?
Wear is a versatile English word used both as a verb and a noun. As a verb, it describes having clothing, footwear, jewelry, or another item on the body: a person may wear a coat, protective equipment, or a smile. It can also describe a gradual change caused by use, friction, or pressure, as when fabric wears thin, a path wears down, or machinery wears out. These meanings connect action and consequence: an object is used, and repeated use leaves visible effects. As a noun, wear can mean clothing of a particular type, such as casual wear or protective wear, or the damaged condition produced by continued use. The word commonly appears in practical expressions such as "wear and tear," while its verb forms "wore" and "worn" are familiar because the verb has irregular past and past-participle forms. Overall, wear is useful because it covers both the deliberate act of using or presenting something and the gradual physical consequences of that use.
To have clothing, footwear, or an accessory on the body; to be dressed in something. It can also mean to deteriorate gradually through use or friction, to wear down or away, or to have a specified appearance or expression.
"She wore a dark green coat over a white shirt."
The verb may be transitive, as in "wear a helmet," or intransitive, as in "the rope wears through." Phrases such as "wear out," "wear down," and "wear away" specify the manner or result of deterioration.
Clothing of a specified type or purpose, or the condition of an object resulting from use, friction, or age.
"The store specializes in lightweight outdoor wear."
The noun is usually uncountable. The plural "wears" is uncommon but occurs in the sense of articles of clothing.
Rare; the noun is normally uncountable.
"The shop sells elegant evening wears for special occasions."
Wear is both an action and its evidence: shoes wear, and then shoes show wear.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wear come from?
The word comes from Old English wēran, meaning "to wear" or "to clothe," which developed through Middle English weren into the modern English verb. Its irregular forms wore and worn reflect older grammatical patterns. Wear is related to words such as ware, aware, and beware through the Germanic vocabulary associated with clothing, goods, and awareness.
Related word forms
How wear is actually used
The verb is common in everyday, formal, and technical contexts. The noun is normally uncountable, although the rare plural "wears" can refer to items of clothing collectively. British and American pronunciation differ mainly in the treatment of the final rhotic consonant.
Easily confused with wear
Wear is a verb meaning to have or use something on the body, whereas were is the past tense of be used with you, they, or we.
Wear refers to clothing or the action of using clothing, while ware means goods or merchandise.