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

Their only jab back at her was that she’s wearing comfortable clothing in her own home.

From Salon

The teaser also shows the celebrities taking part in their first mission, and sitting at the round table for the first time, wearing their blindfolds.

From BBC

The defeated agents run like they’re wearing concrete boots with skates on them as their quarry makes his escape.

From Los Angeles Times

"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