wearing

[wair-ing]

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.

wearing

/ ˈwɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing fatigue or exhaustion; tiring

Other Word Forms

• wearingly adverb
• unwearing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wearing¹

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

Example Sentences

"It's insane that the smell of cannabis alone, or somebody wearing a menacing mask alone, does not generally allow, legally, a stop and search," he said.

From BBC

He has testified in trials after a black mannequin wearing his shirt was hung from a bridge.

From BBC

Witnesses also reported that children, some of whom were not wearing clothes, were restrained.

From Salon

Watson, who recently hit headlines after a public spat with Potter author JK Rowling, sparked rumours she was engaged by wearing a sparkling ring on her wedding finger.

From BBC

Windsor, wearing a grey sweatshirt, sighed and pursed his lips in the dock as the verdicts were announced.

From BBC