Wear
/wɛr/
verbnounA2
Definition
As a verb, wear means to put on or carry clothes, shoes, glasses, or accessories on your body. It shows what a person has on themselves. As a noun, wear refers to the slow damage or use of something, like clothes or shoes, after using them for a long time.
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See It in Action
To have clothes, shoes, or accessories on the body (verb)
- •She likes to wear bright colors in summer.
- •He wears glasses to read.
- •They wear uniforms at school every day.
The damage or use of something after time (noun)
- •The shoes show a lot of wear after many months.
- •The car's tires have wear from driving on rough roads.
- •There is some wear on the chair’s fabric from daily use.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "wear" like "put on" (A1 phrase), but it means to have something on your body all the time, not just putting it on once
- ✓Picture yourself putting on a jacket and keeping it on while you go outside
- ✓It's the feeling of comfort or style when you have your favorite clothes on
- ✓Sounds like "wear" → imagine a bear wearing a hat, making it easy to remember "wear" means to have clothes on
- ✓Think of cartoon characters like Paddington Bear, who always wears his red hat and coat
- ✓As damage, NOT like "break" (which is sudden), "wear" is slow and happens after long use
- ✓As action, NOT like "carry" (holding something), "wear" means the object is on your body, not in your hand
- ✓As condition, NOT like "new" (perfect), "wear" means the object looks old or used
Try Other Words
- •Dress in: to put clothes on (Use when talking about the style or choice of clothes)
- •Carry: to hold something (Use when you hold something, but not on your body)
- •Use: to make something work or function (Use when talking about using objects, not wearing them)
- •Damage: harm or wear out (Use when focusing on the harm or loss of condition)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; simple root word "wear"
- •Etymology: Old English "werian" meaning to clothe or carry
- •Historical development: Used since ancient times to mean clothing oneself or the slow damage of objects
- •Modern usage: Common verb for putting on clothes and noun for describing damage or use over time
- •Interesting fact: "Wear and tear" is a common phrase meaning normal damage from use
Reflect & Connect
•How do different cultures show identity or feelings through what they wear?
•Can "wear" describe feelings or ideas, not just physical clothes? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often wear ___ to protect themselves from cold weather.
2.After many years, the jacket showed signs of wear on the ___.
3.She wears glasses ___ she has trouble seeing far away.
4.Shoes with a lot of wear usually need to be ___ soon.
5.Unlike carrying a bag, to wear something means it is ___ your body.
6.When you wear a uniform, you usually ___ it for work or school.
7.The phrase "wear and tear" means the slow ___ of objects from use.