wear
wear — verb
1. to have something like a shirt, hat, pair of shoes, piece of jewellery, or pair
to have something like a shirt, hat, pair of shoes, piece of jewellery, or pair of glasses against your skin as a covering or decoration
Reuben wore a dark blue suit and a striped tie to the job interview.
Dewi always wears a warm hat when she walks her dog in the park.
always + wear + [item] + for [activity]
The children were told to wear boots and thick coats because it was snowing.
Nia wears glasses for reading, but she does not need them for driving.
Some nurses wear comfortable shoes that help them stand all day at work.
- dress in
more formal or literary; emphasises the act of choosing particular clothes
- have on
informal; focuses on the current state rather than habit
- be dressed in
describes the state with a more complete outfit
文法句型
wear + clothing/item
wear + well/big/small (intransitive)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (DETERIORATE): this sense is always about having something on your body, never about damage. Also distinguished from the phrasal verb 'put on', which describes the action of dressing rather than the state of already wearing something.
常見錯誤
2. to let a feeling or attitude be seen in the way your face looks — for instance,
to let a feeling or attitude be seen in the way your face looks — for instance, a smile when you feel happy, or a frown when you are worried
The teacher wore a worried look when she saw the test scores.
wear + a + [look/expression]
Eitan wore a huge smile as he opened the birthday gift from his family.
The general wore a stern expression throughout the whole ceremony.
Lotte wore an expression of pure joy after finishing the marathon race.
- hide
to keep emotions from being seen on the face
文法句型
wear + a(n) + [expression/look/smile/frown]
用法筆記
Frequently used with adjectives describing emotions (worried, happy, angry, surprised, stern, confused). The subject is always a person, and the object is a facial expression or look.
常見錯誤
3. to choose a specific way of arranging your hair, beard, or moustache and keep it
to choose a specific way of arranging your hair, beard, or moustache and keep it that way over a period of time
Hao wears his hair very short during the hot summer months.
wear + possessive + hair + adjective
Roya wore her hair in a long braid that reached down to her waist.
Takeshi has worn a neat beard since his university days.
The singer started wearing her hair in a bright new colour for each concert tour.
文法句型
wear + possessive + hair + [adjective/in a style]
wear + a beard/moustache
用法筆記
Common with 'your hair' plus a description of the style (short, long, in a ponytail, in a bun). Also used for facial hair (beard, moustache). Not used for nails or makeup — those are 'have' or 'apply'.
4. to become thinner, weaker, or less effective over time because of being used, ru
to become thinner, weaker, or less effective over time because of being used, rubbed, or moved continuously
The knees on Reuben's favourite jeans started to wear thin after six months.
wear + thin (intransitive result)
The carpet in the hallway is wearing very quickly because so many feet walk there.
That leather jacket has worn really well over the past fifteen years.
The old stone steps had worn completely smooth from centuries of daily use.
- deteriorate
more formal; describes gradual decline from any cause, not just use
- degrade
technical; implies a loss of quality or function
- erode
suggests gradual destruction by wind, water, or friction
- last
to remain in good condition over time
文法句型
wear + [adverb: well/badly/quickly]
wear + [adjective: thin/smooth/loose]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (CAUSE DAMAGE): sense 4 is intransitive — the object itself becomes damaged. Sense 5 is transitive — something causes damage to something else (e.g. 'The rope wore a groove in the post'). Often followed by an adjective complement that describes the result: 'wear thin', 'wear smooth', 'wear loose'.
常見錯誤
5. to create a hole, mark, or indentation in a surface by continuous rubbing, frict
to create a hole, mark, or indentation in a surface by continuous rubbing, friction, or movement over time
Strong winds had worn a deep hole in the side of the old cliff.
wear + a hole/groove + in [surface]
The constant rubbing of the rope had worn a groove into the wooden post.
Mateo's shoes had worn a thin spot on the sole after his long walking trip.
Water dripping from the roof over many years had worn a channel through the stone.
文法句型
wear + a hole/groove/channel + in/into/through + [surface]
用法筆記
This sense is always transitive and always describes a visible result (hole, groove, channel, dent) produced by friction. The subject is typically a natural force, repeated motion, or the clothing item itself — not a person acting deliberately.
6. to let an excuse, criticism, or suggestion pass without rejecting it, especially
to let an excuse, criticism, or suggestion pass without rejecting it, especially when you are not happy about having to accept it
The manager said he would not wear any more excuses for arriving late.
would not wear + [excuse/reason]
Lauren suggested a new way of working, but the team would not wear the idea.
The teacher told the class she would not wear any more late homework submissions.
We offered to fly earlier, but our friends would not wear the change — rooms were already booked.
- accept
neutral and widely used; does not carry the informal British feel of 'wear'
- stand for
phrasal verb, similar informal register; often used in the negative
- put up with
suggests tolerating something unpleasant rather than accepting a remark
- reject
to refuse to accept or consider something
文法句型
will/would not wear + [excuse/remark/suggestion]
won't wear + it/that
用法筆記
Almost always used in negative constructions with 'will not' or 'would not'. Rarely appears in positive or affirmative sentences. Common in everyday British conversation but not in formal writing.
常見錯誤
wear — noun
1. a group of clothes made for a specific activity, season, or social occasion — fo
a group of clothes made for a specific activity, season, or social occasion — for instance, casual wear for everyday life or formal wear for ceremonies
The shop sells casual wear and formal wear for both men and women.
[type] + wear = clothing category
All guests were asked to wear formal wear to the wedding reception.
Sports wear should be made of materials that let the skin breathe during exercise.
The store has a good selection of winter wear including hats and thick gloves.
文法句型
[type adjective] + wear
wear + for [purpose]
用法筆記
Commonly found as the second part of compound nouns: 'sportswear', 'formalwear', 'menswear', 'womenswear', 'kidswear', 'nightwear'. These compounds are typically written as one word or two.
常見錯誤
2. how much an object has been used, or how long it can keep being used before it b
how much an object has been used, or how long it can keep being used before it becomes damaged or stops working well
This sofa has had years of wear but it is still comfortable.
a lot of + wear = amount of use
Good quality walking shoes should give you at least two years of normal wear.
The tyres on the delivery van still have plenty of wear left after driving across the country.
The manufacturer claims the fabric can handle heavy wear without losing its colour.
文法句型
a lot of / plenty of / some + wear
wear + left (in something)
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives like 'heavy', 'normal', 'light', 'daily' to describe the intensity of use. The phrase 'still has plenty of wear left' is a common positive assessment.
3. the physical damage or visible marks that appear on an object after it has been
the physical damage or visible marks that appear on an object after it has been used for a long time
The wooden floor showed clear signs of wear near the main entrance.
signs of wear
The carpet in the living room has visible wear from years of family use.
Regular oil changes help reduce wear on the car engine and keep it running.
Lotte noticed some wear on the elbow of her jacket where it rubbed the desk.
- damage
more general; can result from accidents, not just use
- deterioration
more formal; describes gradual decline in condition
- maintenance
actions taken to prevent or repair wear
文法句型
signs of + wear
wear + and + tear
show + wear
用法筆記
The fixed phrase 'wear and tear' (often 'normal wear and tear') is very common in warranties, insurance, and maintenance contexts. It describes the expected damage from ordinary use that is not caused by accidents or neglect.
常見錯誤
wear — idiom
1. the name of a river 108 kilometres long in northeast England that travels past D
the name of a river 108 kilometres long in northeast England that travels past Durham city and reaches the sea close to Sunderland
The River Wear flows past Durham Cathedral and into the sea.
Many tourists visit the River Wear to see the old stone bridges.
Salmon can be found swimming up the River Wear during autumn.
The River Wear divides the older part of Durham from the newer areas.