wear out

Verb

wear out (third-person singular simple present wears out, present participle wearing out, simple past wore out, past participle worn out)

1. To cause (something) to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use, especially hard, heavy, or careless use.
   • You're going to wear out that game if you keep playing so rough with it.
   • He wears a pair of tennis shoes out every summer.
2. (intransitive) To deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain.
   • The old tractor finally wore out.
   • My shoes wear out quickly now that I walk to work.
3. To exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness, as by continued strain or exertion.
   • You kids are wearing me out!
   • Trying to keep up with politics wears me out.
4. (intransitive) To become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary, as by continued strain or exertion.
   • I'm wearing out, guys. Time to go to sleep.
   • They built our railways, but they wore themselves out in the process.2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Lancaster (1860)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 58
5. Of apparel, to display in public.
   • Those sweatpants are great for loafing around the house, but they're not meant to be worn out.
6. Of a shirt, to not tuck into the pants; to wear in a casual manner.
   • A dress shirt should be tucked in, but a t-shirt can be worn out.

   Synonyms:

   outwear

7. (Southern US) To punish by spanking.