tiring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tiring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes fatigue or exhaustion, often in relation to physical or mental activities. Example: "After a long day of meetings and presentations, I found the entire experience quite tiring."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unlike puzzle games, where the mechanic gets tiring after a couple of hours, they offer a dizzying range of activities.

The Guardian - Opinion

It forced me to think about the experience on that small screen and how quick the interactions would be (holding your arm up for a long time is tiring).

The Guardian

He sometimes interrupted meetings to take calls from him; but whether it was actually Mitchell, no one knew.Rather than be a fugitive, which was tiring, he wanted to be untouchable.

The Economist

As a result, many distilleries shut, leading to shortages of ethanol just as motorists were anyway tiring of the reluctance of ethanol-fuelled cars to start on cold mornings.

The Economist

"We're the ones now under siege," says the owner of Che Che, a hubbly-bubbly café in Ramallah.With the region's winds blowing the Islamists' way, Mr Abbas may be tiring of trying to persuade the West to give him a state.

The Economist

If AK does that badly, one minister predicts, it might even split.Besides his 11 years in office, Gezi and the corruption cases, another reason why some Turks are tiring of Mr Erdogan is the economy.

The Economist

A botched attempt to modernise public transport in Santiago, the capital, smacked of incompetence.In this section Spot the drug trafficker The writing on the wall Upping the body count Zelaya plays the Chávez card Reprints Related items Chile: A force for good, nowSep 25th 2008But if voters are tiring of the Concertación, opinion polls suggest they are not thrilled by the Alliance.

The Economist

Moreover, the high number of points Ms Williams wins with a single shot prevents her from tiring too quickly.Mr Federer's corresponding advantage is his versatility.

The Economist

But the danger is that the Afghan people, and the Taliban, will conclude that America is tiring of the fight and can be outlasted.

The Economist

An old woman from the southern city of Galle confessed she had not expected the journey to be so tiring.

The Economist

But they have done little to pave the way for wider talks, for instance by reassuring ethnic and religious minorities that back the regime because they fear the mainly Sunni resistance.The dissidents like to boast of their acumen, but would-be helpful foreign governments as well as protesters inside Syria are tiring of a council that has proved opaque, indecisive and politically naive.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tiring" to describe activities or situations that cause fatigue or reduce energy levels. For instance, "The constant travel was incredibly tiring."

Common error

While "tiring" is generally acceptable, in highly formal writing, consider stronger alternatives like "exhausting" or "demanding" to convey a more impactful sense of fatigue.

Linguistic Context

"Tiring" primarily functions as an adjective, describing something that causes fatigue or reduces energy. According to Ludwig, it's a valid term in English writing. Many examples from Ludwig illustrate its adjectival use, such as "Carrying my bags up four flights of stairs is very tiring."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Travel

8%

Sport

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Books

2%

Lifestyle

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tiring" is a commonly used adjective that describes something causing fatigue or exhaustion. According to Ludwig, the term is correct and appropriate for use in written English. It appears frequently in news and media contexts and is also used in travel and sports writing. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "exhausting" or "fatiguing" may be preferred in some situations. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its practical usage, helping to ensure clarity and appropriateness in writing. When writing remember that "I am tiring" is grammatically incorrect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhausting

Focuses more on the complete depletion of energy.

fatiguing

Similar to "tiring" but can sound slightly more formal or technical.

wearying

Emphasizes the process of becoming tired over time.

draining

Highlights the loss of energy or resources.

taxing

Suggests a heavy demand on one's resources, both physical and mental.

arduous

Refers to something that requires great effort and is physically demanding.

grueling

Implies extreme exhaustion, often due to prolonged effort.

monotonous

Indicates a lack of variety that leads to boredom and fatigue.

tedious

Focuses on the boring and repetitive nature of something, leading to weariness.

demotivating

Highlights the loss of enthusiasm and drive, rather than physical fatigue.

FAQs

What does "tiring" mean?

"Tiring" describes something that causes fatigue or makes you feel exhausted. It can refer to physical activities, mental tasks, or even emotional situations.

What can I say instead of "tiring"?

You can use alternatives like "exhausting", "fatiguing", or "wearying" depending on the context.

How to use "tiring" in a sentence?

"Tiring" is often used as an adjective. For example: "The hike was very tiring" or "It's tiring to constantly explain myself."

Is it correct to say "I am tiring"?

No, "I am tiring" is grammatically incorrect. You can say "I am tired" to describe your state of being, or "It is tiring" to describe something that causes you to feel tired. For example "This job is tiring".