wearing

American  

[wair-ing] / ˈwɛər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. gradually impairing or wasting.

   Reading small print can be wearing on the eyes.

2. wearying or exhausting.

   a wearing task.

3. relating to or made for wear.

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wearing British  

/ ˈwɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing fatigue or exhaustion; tiring

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Other Word Forms

• unwearing adjective
• wearingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of wearing

First recorded in 1805–15; wear + -ing ²

Example Sentences

He’s wearing shorts and his knees look scuffed.

From Literature

Some were still wearing the pyjamas they had on when they fled their homes.

From BBC

Instead he took to wearing colorful robes while making grand processions to Friday prayers and giving interviews to the foreign press.

From The Wall Street Journal

Each was wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Middle Eastern headscarf, in the dock, as were a number of supporters in the public gallery.

From BBC

"They've been told not to go home wearing their blazers to identify which school they are from."

From BBC