had worn

USAGE SUMMARY

'had worn' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action which occurred before another action in the past; specifically, that the first action was completed before the second action began. Example sentence: By the time he arrived at the party, she had worn her new dress.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mine had worn away.

The New Yorker

The sheen had worn off.

The New York Times

He had worn a tuxedo.

The New Yorker

She had worn it in shows.

The New York Times

Mutombo had worn him down.

The New York Times - Sports

Diabetes, then, had worn her out.

The New York Times

Most women had worn the jilbab before.

The New York Times

By then, the novelty had worn off.

The New York Times - Magazine

I wished I had worn dark glasses.

The New York Times - Tech

By Monday, the shyness had worn off.

The New York Times - Sports

Or what sort of person had worn them?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had worn" to clearly establish a sequence of past events, ensuring the action of wearing occurred before another specified past action. For example, "By the time she arrived, he "had worn" his best suit."

Common error

Avoid using "had worn" when simply describing a past state without reference to another prior event. Use the simple past tense "wore" instead. For example, say "She wore a hat yesterday", not "She had worn a hat yesterday" unless it is relevant to a prior event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had worn" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action of wearing something that was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had worn" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase. As Ludwig AI suggests, it serves to establish a clear chronological sequence between two past events, emphasizing that the act of wearing preceded another action. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, from news reporting to academic writing. While readily found across varied sources, it is most prevalent in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Remember to avoid using it when a simple past tense is sufficient, ensuring accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had donned

Replaces "worn" with "donned", emphasizing the act of putting something on, typically clothing.

had sported

Substitutes "worn" with "sported", suggesting that the item was worn with pride or flair.

had been dressed in

Rephrases the action to focus on the state of being clothed in something specific.

had used

Replaces "worn" in contexts where the meaning implies using something until it is worn out or depleted.

had become accustomed to

Shifts the focus to familiarity and habit, replacing the physical act of wearing.

had grown accustomed to

Similar to 'had become accustomed to' but suggests a gradual development of familiarity.

had previously displayed

Emphasizes a prior showing or exhibition, rather than the act of wearing.

had been subjected to

Used in contexts where the emphasis is on experiencing something difficult or damaging.

had endured

Highlights the aspect of tolerating or withstanding a challenging experience.

had deteriorated due to

Focuses on the decay or decline resulting from wear or use.

FAQs

How is "had worn" used in a sentence?

"Had worn" is used to indicate an action of wearing something that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "She "had worn" the dress before she realized it was torn."

What's a simple way to rephrase "had worn"?

Depending on the context, you could rephrase "had worn" as "wore" if you are describing a simple past action without needing to emphasize the sequence of events.

How does "had worn" differ from "wore"?

"Had worn" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another past action. "Wore" is in the simple past tense and simply describes an action in the past. The choice depends on whether you need to establish a sequence of past events.

In what situations is it best to use "had worn"?

Use "had worn" when you want to emphasize that the act of wearing something occurred before another action in the past. For example, "He "had worn" the same shirt to every interview until he finally got a job."