-worn

¹ American  

1. a combining form with the meaning “showing a specified level of use, deterioration, or consumption”.

   Before you toss that little-worn top, consider if it could be given a second life.

2. a combining form with the meaning “showing wear, deterioration, or exhaustion from a specified cause”.

   The old bridges fit the landscape, maybe because they are as windworn and aged as the land around them.

   The knights were weary and battleworn when they returned to the castle.

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worn ² American  

[wawrn] / wɔrn /

adjective

1. diminished in value or usefulness through wear, use, handling, etc..

   The car's front tires were very worn, with little tread left.

2. showing a considerable level of use or wear.

   He read his speech from two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been folded and unfolded many times.

3. wearied; exhausted.

   She looked worn but joyful as she held her newborn daughter.

   Synonyms:

   spent, tired, fatigued

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verb

1. the past participle of wear.

worn British  

/ wɔːn /

verb

1. the past participle of wear 1

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adjective

1. affected, esp adversely, by long use or action

   a worn suit

2. haggard; drawn

3. exhausted; spent

Other Word Forms

• self-worn adjective
• unworn adjective
• wornness noun

Etymology

Origin of worn

First recorded in 1500–10, for the adjective

Example Sentences

And yet, Border Patrol agents have worn body cameras since 2021.

From Slate

“I’ve seen something like it before, but I’ve never worn such a fancy, newfangled thing. I’m afraid it might strangle me.”

From Literature

The whole gown was about as worn out as an old dishrag, but I wasn’t about to start complaining.

From Literature

Her face looked worn out, but she was tense and pacing like a turkey before Christmas dinner.

From Literature

“Go ahead and ride with it behind us in the mule cart, Miss Charity, and I will fetch it from you tomorrow. I am so worn out, I will take Madam Imbert’s kind offer to see me home.”

From Literature

Related Words

• frayed
• shabby
• tattered
• threadbare
• timeworn
• well-worn