The verb to wear means to have clothing, jewelry, or accessories on your body. You wear a jacket when it's cold, wear sneakers to gym class, and wear a helmet when riding your bike. People wear glasses to see better, wear watches to check the time, and wear costumes on Halloween.

The word also describes what happens when something gets damaged or breaks down from repeated use over time. Your favorite shoes start to wear out after months of daily use, their soles getting thinner and their fabric developing holes. A wooden staircase shows wear where millions of footsteps have smoothed and hollowed the wood. Teachers talk about books in the classroom library showing wear and tear from being read by hundreds of students.

When something wears on you, it gradually becomes annoying or exhausting. A younger sibling's constant questions might wear on your patience during a long car ride. A difficult project can wear you down if it takes weeks longer than you expected.

You might also wear an expression on your face: wearing a smile, wearing a frown, or wearing a look of concentration during a chess match.