are worn out

USAGE SUMMARY

"are worn out" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that's tired or exhausted. For example, "After a long day at work, my feet are worn out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their clothes are worn out and torn".

The New Yorker

Why do people replace garments before they are worn out?

Encyclopedia Britannica

"My knees are worn out," he said, from praying for a sale.

The New York Times

"I buy shoes if the old ones are worn out," he says.

The New York Times

Those women who in your workshops suffer exhaustion and are worn out in order to earn 40 cents a day?

Independent

"My body's worn out, my shoulders are worn out, and I have arthritis and pain all over".

The New York Times

These pseudo-German coinages are worn out and best avoided; in any case, über takes an umlaut.

The New York Times

Soldiers are worn out after repeated tours and the army is having trouble retaining them and recruiting suitable replacements.

The Economist

"A lot of players this time of year are worn out, ready for our year to end.

The New York Times - Sports

Superman and Spiderman are worn out; TV formats are old hat; we've had rom coms, book adaptations and gross-out comedy.

Independent

And in Italy some of these rules are worn out, or absent altogether.Five years ago everybody agreed that several things had to be done, subito.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the condition of physical objects, ensure the context clearly indicates whether it's due to overuse, age, or inherent material weakness. For example, "The tires are worn out because of the long journey" is more precise than simply stating "The tires are worn out".

Common error

Avoid attributing all instances of being "are worn out" to a single cause. Be specific about whether the exhaustion is due to physical exertion, emotional stress, or prolonged use. This specificity adds clarity and depth to your description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are worn out" functions primarily as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a noun. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples where it modifies both animate (e.g., people) and inanimate (e.g., objects) nouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are worn out" is a common and versatile expression used to describe a state of depletion, exhaustion, or deterioration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, wikis, and formal communications. While semantically related phrases like "are exhausted" and "are depleted" exist, "are worn out" uniquely applies to both animate and inanimate subjects. It's essential to maintain specificity when describing the cause of being "are worn out", whether due to physical exertion or prolonged use. Overall, this phrase serves as a practical way to convey reduced functionality or energy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are exhausted

Focuses on the state of being completely depleted of energy.

are fatigued

Emphasizes a state of tiredness, often from physical or mental exertion.

are spent

Highlights that resources or energy have been completely used up.

are depleted

Indicates a significant reduction or exhaustion of something.

are tired

A general term for lacking energy or enthusiasm.

are knackered

An informal term, primarily British, for being extremely tired.

are shattered

Suggests a state of extreme exhaustion, both physically and emotionally.

are beat

An informal term for being very tired.

are obsolete

Highlights the state of being no longer useful or relevant due to being outdated.

are past their prime

Indicates that something has exceeded its peak condition or usefulness.

FAQs

How can I use "are worn out" in a sentence?

You can use "are worn out" to describe items that have deteriorated from use, like "The brakes /s/are+worn+out/ and need replacing", or to describe a state of exhaustion, like "The runners /s/are+worn+out/ after the marathon".

What's a less common way to say "are worn out"?

Alternatives to "are worn out" include /s/are+fatigued/, /s/are+depleted/, or /s/are+spent/, which offer slightly different connotations of tiredness or resource depletion.

When is it more appropriate to use "are exhausted" instead of "are worn out"?

"Are exhausted" usually refers to people or animals that are extremely tired, whereas "are worn out" can refer to both living beings and inanimate objects that have deteriorated or become unusable. For example, "The batteries /s/are+worn+out/" but "The hikers /s/are+exhausted/".

What's the difference between "are worn out" and "are broken"?

"Are worn out" implies a gradual decline in condition through use, while "are broken" suggests a sudden cessation of function. "The shoes /s/are+worn+out/" after years of wear, but "The vase /s/are+broken/" after it fell.