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

The movement is popular outside Alberta’s biggest cities, such as in central Innisfield, where store owner Casey Sorensen was advertising his pro-independence position on a recent day by wearing a T-shirt of the provincial flag.

From The Wall Street Journal

The first big break in the case came Tuesday, when the FBI released surveillance videos of someone approaching Guthrie’s door wearing a holstered gun, ski mask and backpack.

From Los Angeles Times

Spaghetti is the kind of dish you’d be extra cautious of eating when wearing all white — or the kind of dish that parents may think twice about before giving it to their little kiddies.

From Salon

There are some researchers and developers working with augmented reality, so if you’re wearing their glasses with an AR display, they will navigate you to your desired location.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

From Los Angeles Times