has been worn

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been worn" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that is no longer new, but has been used. For example: This dress has been worn several times.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The sarong has been worn by both men and women.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The defender has been worn down by his heavyweight career.

The Guardian - Sport

This vision has been worn down over time by a number of factors.

The New Yorker

The kimono has been worn much more freely for most of its history.

The New York Times

The Rangers had 28 victories in 43 games, so the hat has been worn a lot.

The New York Times - Sports

"There are areas where the fabric has been worn through, fragile seams and other problems".

Independent

A wedding dress has been worn once and only for a matter of hours".

The New York Times

The number has been worn since Gooden left, by HIDEO NOMO in 1998.

The New York Times - Sports

It has been worn and washed by hand innumerable times and requires no ironing.

The New York Times - Travel

It's as if he has been worn smooth by the blows.

The New York Times - Sports

If a dress has been worn by a celebrity, bidding jumps exponentially.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the condition of an object, use "has been worn" to indicate prior use and potential wear and tear. This phrase is especially effective in product descriptions or historical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "is worn" when you want to emphasize the action of wearing over time. "Has been worn" indicates a completed action with lasting effects, while "is worn" describes a current state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been worn" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that the subject has undergone the action of being worn at some point in the past, with relevance to the present. Ludwig examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

12%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been worn" is a grammatically correct and widely used passive perfect construction that describes the prior use of an object or item. According to Ludwig, it functions to provide information about the condition, history, or value of the subject. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. Ludwig's analysis confirms that "has been worn" is a versatile and informative phrase for describing the history of an item's use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was worn

Simple past tense; less emphasis on the present relevance.

had been worn

Past perfect tense; focuses on an action completed before another point in the past.

has seen use

Emphasizes the action of using something, rather than the wearing.

has experienced wear

Highlights the degradation due to use.

shows signs of wear

Focuses on the visible effects of being used.

has been utilized

Formal; emphasizes the functional use of something.

has undergone use

Focuses on the process of being used.

has been subjected to wear

Formal; highlights the impact of use.

has a history of use

Emphasizes the past usage rather than the current state.

is no longer new

Highlights the lack of newness due to prior use.

FAQs

How can I use "has been worn" in a sentence?

You can use "has been worn" to describe items that have been used before, such as "This dress "has been worn" only once" or "The tires "has been worn" down from frequent use".

What's a synonym for "has been worn"?

Alternatives to "has been worn" include "was worn", "has seen use", or "shows signs of wear", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has been wear" instead of "has been worn"?

No, "has been wear" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "has been worn", where "worn" is the past participle of the verb "wear".

What is the difference between "has been worn" and "is worn"?

"Has been worn" indicates a past action that has implications for the present state (e.g., "The coat "has been worn", so it's no longer new"). "Is worn" describes a current state of being (e.g., "The fabric "is worn" and needs repair").