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.

---

wearing British  

/ ˈwɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing fatigue or exhaustion; tiring

---

Other Word Forms

• unwearing adjective
• wearingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of wearing

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

Example Sentences

“It looks like a football player wearing shoulder pads,” she says with a giggle.

From Literature

They were wearing boots, but even through the thick soles, their feet grew warm from the hot ash.

From Literature

"Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival," he told local media.

From BBC

He stood in the dock wearing glasses and a two-toned grey sweatshirt and as he made his admissions, gasps and some sighs were heard in the court room.

From BBC

That’s due in large part to the rush that comes with wearing your country’s colors on your chest.

From Los Angeles Times