wear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of having clothing or accessories on one's body. Example: "I like to wear comfortable shoes when I go for a walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think it's for women to make a choice about what clothes they wish to wear, if they wish to wear a veil that is for a woman to make a choice.

The Guardian

The government should not tell women what to wear, the home secretary has said, amid ongoing debate over the use of full-face veils.

The Guardian

But in general women should be free to decide what to wear for themselves".

The Guardian

I'll wear my lucky suit, the one Prada gave me to wear at the Golden Globes".

The Guardian - Film

At the time, players were allowed, but not required, to wear helmets, and most players chose to go helmet-less, despite the risk of severe head trauma.

The Economist

But when they were asked in secret ballots most players also said that the league should require them to wear helmets.

The Economist

I sometimes wear skirts and dresses – but they're funky rather than feminine.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And then I'd have my green scarf, my green belt, and if I managed to have a green handbag I'd wear that as well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He became the first to wear a three-digit shirt number with his 107.

The Guardian - Sport

I winced in sympathy at female tennis players who have their periods during Wimbledon, when they must wear white and are allowed one toilet break per set.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unlike many parts of the country where women have shed traditional regional attire, the women of Qeshm and Hormuz mostly wear the colourful bandari pants, loose at the top and tight at the bottom with vibrant embroidery.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing clothing, use "wear" to indicate the act of having it on your body. For metaphorical uses, consider if a more precise verb like "erode" or "exhaust" might be more appropriate for clarity.

Common error

Avoid misspelling "wear" as "where". "Wear" refers to clothing or the process of eroding, while "where" indicates a location.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wear" is as a transitive verb when it describes the action of having clothing or accessories on one's body. It can also function as an intransitive verb describing gradual deterioration. Ludwig shows this flexibility with examples like "I'll wear my lucky suit" and "They were looking the worse for wear."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Lifestyle

23%

Sport

6%

Less common in

Business

5%

Opinion

5%

Tech

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "wear" is a common and versatile verb with meanings ranging from adorning oneself with clothing to enduring hardship or suffering erosion. Ludwig examples from authoritative sources such as The Guardian and The Economist show its diverse application. Its grammatical correctness is supported by Ludwig AI, and it's found in neutral register across news, lifestyle, and sports contexts. Using "wear" correctly involves distinguishing its different meanings and avoiding common misspellings like confusing it with "where".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put on

Refers specifically to the act of getting dressed.

have on

Describes the state of currently being dressed in something.

don

A more formal or literary way to say "wear".

last

Focuses on the durability of something over time.

endure

Highlights the ability to withstand hardship or stress.

deteriorate

Emphasizes the process of something gradually declining in quality.

erode

Implies gradual destruction through natural forces.

exhaust

Focuses on depleting resources or energy.

tire out

Specifically refers to making someone physically or mentally tired.

carry

Implies having something equipped on the body or about one's person.

FAQs

How can I use "wear" in a sentence?

You can use "wear" to describe the act of having clothes on your body, like "I "wear" a coat in the winter", or to describe gradual deterioration, like "The constant friction will "wear" down the surface".

What is the difference between "wear" and "dress"?

"Wear" refers to having clothes on, while "dress" refers to the act of putting clothes on. For example, "I "wear" a suit to work," but "I "dress" in a suit for work".

What are some synonyms for "wear"?

Synonyms for "wear" include "put on", "have on", "don", and "carry", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "wearing" instead of "wear"?

Yes, "wearing" is the present participle of "wear" and is used in continuous tenses. For example, "I am "wearing" a hat".