worn-out
adjective
worn or used beyond repair.
worn-out
American
[wawrn-out, wohrn-]
/ ˈwɔrnˈaʊt, ˈwoʊrn- /
adjective
-
worn or used beyond repair.
-
depleted of energy, strength, or enthusiasm; exhausted; fatigued.
worn-out
British
adjective
-
worn or used until threadbare, valueless, or useless
-
exhausted; very weary
worn out
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of worn-out
First recorded in 1585–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
During the winter, temperatures dropped to -25C, so old, worn-out sleepings bags were of little use when they slept on the frozen ground or a cold concrete floor.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
But any film that hinges on its cast to prop up a worn-out narrative should be approached with suspicion, if approached at all.
From Salon • Jan. 4, 2026
Derenne noticed some sagging on the roof and worn-out shingles during their first showing at the house the Johnsons ended up buying.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 12, 2025
It’s a clever line, but worn-out New Jerseyans seeking a change might be more likely to turn out if they knew how he’d deliver.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
I am transitional; some days I look like a worn-out thirty-five, others like a sprightly fifty.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
