wear up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wear up" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of terms, as "wear" typically refers to clothing or usage, while "wear out" is a common expression. Example: "After years of use, my shoes are starting to wear out."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Hockey players have also been clocked at about 20 mph — and they wear up to 20 pounds of equipment.

The Washington Post

HIF-MoS2/RGO reinforced grease maintains very low friction coefficient and wear up to 4.1 GPa, while the normal MoS2 and RGO show high wear at the pressure up to 3.0 GPa.

Carbon

Like the Grateful Dead's Deadheads at concerts, SAS veterans of previous user conventions wear up to 20 badges on their jackets as a demonstration of loyalty.

Forbes

The $139/month subscription allows women to rent and wear up to three pieces at a time from sought-after contemporary design houses including Proenza Schouler, Jason Wu, and Derek Lam.

Forbes

Similar to your love for emerging artists you often wear up and coming designers.

HuffPost

The small number of beads found in the remaining 14 graves is indicative of how styles had changed; in the 6th century it was customary for women to wear up to 100 relatively plain beads at a time in the form of necklaces, but by the mid-7th century, the fashion was for a small number of high-quality beads which may have been attached with wire or carried in a bag.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

You need to wear up-to-date styles without offending the judges by being too fashion forward.

WikiHow

Long hair has to be worn up, and in a sleek style.

The New York Times

This was worn up until 1957, when it was changed to just the tiger's head.

Wikipedia

It can be worn up to 12 hours (unlike a tampon with 8 hour wear).

WikiHow

Hair is worn up in a hairnet most of the time.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing clothing, use more common and precise phrasal verbs like "wear out" or "wear down" to convey the intended meaning of deterioration or exhaustion. For style or fashion, use "wear" with descriptive adjectives.

Common error

Avoid using "wear up" when you mean to say "wear out" or "wear down". "Wear up" is not a standard or widely accepted phrasal verb, so it's best to use established alternatives to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wear up" is not a standard phrasal verb in English. The examples Ludwig provides show it sometimes appears in contexts where other phrasal verbs might be more appropriate, but it lacks a consistent grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

43%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "wear up" appears in some contexts, it is not a grammatically correct or widely recognized phrasal verb in English. Ludwig AI flags it as potentially incorrect. More established alternatives like "wear out" or "wear down" should be preferred to convey the intended meaning of something becoming worn or exhausting. When discussing clothing, use "wear" with appropriate adjectives or established phrasal verbs to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wear down

Focuses on the deterioration or exhaustion caused by usage or stress, rather than a deliberate action of wearing something.

tire out

Highlights the action of becoming exhausted, similar to the tiring aspect of "wear up".

don fashionable attire

Emphasizes the act of putting on stylish clothing.

sport the latest trends

Focuses on wearing items that are currently popular, related to the style aspect.

put on formal wear

Highlights the act of wearing clothing for a specific occasion.

become weary

Similar to the tiring effect suggested by "wear up", but focused on the state of being tired.

show off designer clothes

Focuses on displaying expensive or stylish clothing.

wear out clothes

Highlights that clothes are ruined or deteriorated for usage.

get dressed to the nines

Indicates dressing very smartly or elaborately.

deck oneself out

Emphasizes adorning oneself with clothing and accessories.

FAQs

Is "wear up" grammatically correct?

No, "wear up" is not a standard or recognized phrasal verb in English. It's often confused with "wear out" or "wear down", which have different meanings.

What does "wear up" mean?

While not grammatically correct, "wear up" is sometimes used informally to mean either to exhaust or to dress in a fashionable manner. However, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing or conversation.

How can I correctly use "wear" in a sentence?

Use "wear" to describe the act of having clothes on your body (e.g., "I wear a jacket") or to describe the state of something deteriorating over time (e.g., "The tires are "wearing out"").

Which is the correct way to say that something is becoming old by usage, "wear up" or "wear out"?

The correct way is to say "wear out". "Wear up" is not a standard English phrase, while "wear out" means to become unusable through long or heavy use.