wearing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'wearing' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the word 'wearing' to describe the act of having something on your body, such as clothing or accessories. It can also mean to carry or display something, usually a quality or emotion. Example 1: She was wearing a beautiful red dress to the party. Example 2: The queen was wearing a crown on her head. Example 3: The man had a stern expression, wearing his anger like a badge of honor. Example 4: The toddler was happily wearing his new dinosaur t-shirt. Example 5: The actor was wearing a fake mustache to disguise himself for the film role.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Referred to in court as D, she entered a not guilty plea to a charge of intimidation last week while wearing a niqab after the judge backed down from a previous decision that she would have to show her face to be properly identified.

The Guardian

The reason for this conflict, Schelling explained, was that not wearing a helmet conferred a slight advantage on the ice; crucially, it gave the player better peripheral vision, and it also made him look fearless.

The Economist

Such is the affection for Stuart Pearce in these parts, the opprobrium of the Nottingham Forest supporters on the final whistle was muted and delivered as much in sorrow as in anger, but their patience with the manager must be wearing thin.

The Guardian - Sport

One of the company's leading lines, Casillero del Diablo, takes its name from the tale, although it seems unlikely that a 19th-century mining magnate and prominent politician would really have spent his evenings lurking in dank corners wearing fancy dress.

The Guardian - Travel

She explained that the sortie began with military precision around 9pm on Monday, that all of those who attacked their homes were wearing surgical gloves, masks and combat uniforms, that they arrived with wheelie bins stuffed with bricks, bottles and other missiles, and that the entire attack appeared to be well organised.

The Guardian

It's day four so I'm barely bleeding, but I'm still wearing a sanitary pad.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I am so excited that Brenda has made it," said Loyce, wearing an outstanding red floral flowing busuuti (type of dress).

The Guardian

We enjoy a chat with me tucked safely in the middle, wearing Gulotta's heavy white bulletproof vest.

The Guardian

He's been in DIY bands since the early 90s, is missing teeth as well as most of his hair, and is wearing a T-shirt that says Dinosaurs Are Wankers.

The Guardian - Music

Gang culture on the other hand is more long term and rises from people wearing a different coloured bandana, living in a different postcode or having a certain name engaging in conflict.

The Guardian

As the New York Times art critic Roberta Smith once wrote: "before multiculturalism was a word, Mrs Apfel was wearing it".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's attire, use "wearing" to provide a clear and concise picture of their appearance. For example, "She was wearing a bright yellow dress" is more direct than "She had on a bright yellow dress".

Common error

Avoid using "wearing" in passive voice constructions where it's more appropriate to use "worn". For example, instead of saying "The dress was being wearing by her", say "The dress was worn by her".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wearing" is as a present participle, functioning within continuous verb tenses (e.g., "is wearing", "was wearing") to describe the ongoing action of having something on one's body. Ludwig's examples from diverse news articles confirm this common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "wearing" is a very common and grammatically correct term used to describe the act of having something on one's body, like clothes or accessories. As a present participle, it often appears in continuous tenses. The provided examples from Ludwig demonstrate its wide use in news and media, showcasing its descriptive function. While "wearing" enjoys neutral formality, ensuring its appropriateness across diverse communication contexts, it's important to use it actively rather than passively. Ludwig AI underscores "wearing" as a key component for clear, descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clothed in

Emphasizes the state of being dressed in something specific.

clad in

Similar to clothed, but can also refer to being covered in a material other than clothing.

sporting

Suggests wearing something with pride or in a noticeable way.

donning

Implies putting something on, often with a sense of occasion or purpose.

outfitted in

Focuses on the complete set of clothing or equipment being worn.

attired in

Formal way of saying someone is dressed in a particular manner.

arrayed in

Suggests being elaborately or beautifully dressed.

decked out in

Implies being adorned or decorated with something.

bearing

Refers to displaying a quality or characteristic rather than clothing.

exhibiting

Similar to bearing, but often used for traits or emotions.

FAQs

How to use "wearing" in a sentence?

Use "wearing" to describe the act of having something on your body as clothing or accessories. For example: "She is wearing a hat." Alternatively, you can use "clothed in", "sporting", or "donning".

What can I say instead of "wearing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "clothed in", "sporting", "donning", or "attired in".

What's the difference between "wearing" and "worn"?

"Wearing" is the present participle of the verb "wear", used in continuous tenses (e.g., "She is wearing a coat"). "Worn" is the past participle, used in perfect tenses or as an adjective (e.g., "She has worn that coat before", "a worn coat").

Is it correct to say "wearing" a smile?

Yes, using "wearing" to describe a facial expression, like a smile or frown, is a figurative way to indicate that someone is displaying that emotion. For example, "He was wearing a smile despite his disappointment".