What Is The Past Tense Of To Wear?
The past tense of “wear” is “wore.” Its past participle form is “worn”. Because wear is an irregular verb, so you need to memorize its verb forms without any rule.
Check out the table below for more verb conjugations of the English verb wear:
| Base/Infinitive Form (V1) | wear |
| Present Form/3rd Person/Singular Form | wears |
| Past Form (V2) | wore |
| Past Participle Form (V3) | worn |
| Present Participle/Gerund | wearing |
How To Pronounce Wear And Wore Properly?
According to Collins Dictionary, the base form wear is pronounced as /weə(r)/ in British English and /wer/ in American English.
The pronunciation of wore is like the one of “war”, which is /wɔː(r)/ in the British accent, and /wɔːr/ in the American accent.
The table below will make you clearer:
| Verb Forms | Pronunciation | |
| British English language | American English language | |
| wear | /weə(r)/ | /wer/ |
| wore
(V2) |
/wɔː(r)/ | /wɔːr/ |
| worn
(V3) |
/wɔːn/ | /wɔːrn/ |
| wearing | /ˈweərɪŋ/ | /ˈwerɪŋ/ |
How to say wear in V1 and V2 as naturally as native speakers? You can watch the videos below:
Wear pronunciation:
Wore pronunciation:
Worn pronunciation:
What Are The Definitions Of “Wear”? How To Use Wore?
We use “wore” as the V2 of “wear” when talking about an event or an action that happened and was completed in the past. Below are the meanings of wear to help you use it correctly:
- To have on one’s body as clothing or adornment.
Example: Yesterday, she wore a beautiful dress to the party.
- To have a particular hairstyle/ To have a beard or mustache.
Example 1: He wore his hair in a slicked-back style for the camping trip, despite ridicule from his friends.
- To exhibit or display something, such as a particular facial expression or emotion.
Example: He wore a puzzled expression as he tried to understand the difficult math problem.
- To make something weak/smooth over time through constant use or friction.
Example: The carpet on the stairs wore thin after years of use.
- To make a hole or path by continuously rubbing.
Example: After years of use, the constant rubbing of the metal hinge wore a groove in the wooden door.
- To accept, allow, or tolerate something, especially something you disapprove of.
Example: Despite her reservations, she wore criticism from her colleagues and worked hard to improve her performance.
Exercises
FAQs
What Are The Synonyms And Antonyms Of The Verb “Wear”?
Common synonyms of the verb “wear” based on its meaning:
- Put on, dress, don, clothe, have on, slip on,
- Drain, erode, fray, rub, abrade, scratch, chafe
- Tolerate, endure, stand, accept, handle, and bear. (See past tense of bear here)
Antonyms of the verb “wear” include:
- Take off, undress, slip off, doff, put away, disrobe, strip off, slip out of, remove
- Refresh, strengthen, defend, protect, secure, safeguard, save, cover
- Refuse, reject, block, dismiss, resist, fight, decline, avoid, oppose, combat, and repudiate. (Click here to learn past tense of fight)
Is “Wear” A Noun?
Yes. Wear can be used as a noun with the following meanings:
- Special clothes in clothing shops for a particular purpose.
Example: The store has a great selection of athletic wear for running and working out.
- The act of wearing or carrying something on one’s body as a garment or accessory.
Example: The wear on my shoes is uneven because I tend to drag my feet.
- The damage or deterioration that results from use or time.
Example: The car’s tires showed significant wear and tear after the long journey.
What Does “Wear And Tear” Mean?
“Wear and tear” is an idiom used to describe the damage or deterioration that occurs over time from normal use or age. It is an inevitable consequence of regular use, and affects everything from machinery and equipment to clothing and household items.
Example: The couch had started to show signs of wear and tear after years of use by the family.
What Does “Wear On” Mean?
“Wear on” is a phrasal verb that means to pass in a slow way.
Here are some examples of “wear on” being used in context:
Example:
- As the night wears on, Paris transforms from a spirited soul to a charming, delicate sprite that could lure any visitor.
The time wore on when she was waiting for news from her missing husband.
His name is Benjamin Essek – The founder of Grammar Wiki. He is an English native speaker and has joined many English classes, learning communities to support other people with this common language as well.