outwore

The child outwore his shoes before the school year ended.

Definition

1. Verb (past tense of ):
   • To last longer than: "outwore" means to have endured or persisted beyond something else in terms of durability or time.
   • To exhaust or wear out completely: "outwore" can mean to have caused someone or something to become completely worn, tired, or unable to continue.
   • To survive or endure through a period: "outwore" can mean to have passed through a specific duration of time or difficulty.

Usage Examples

• To last longer than:

  • This coat outwore all my other jackets; it is still in good condition after five years. (The coat lasted longer than other jackets.)
  • Her patience outwore his stubbornness; she waited until he finally agreed. (Her patience endured beyond his resistance.)

• To exhaust or wear out completely:

  • The long journey outwore the travellers; they collapsed into bed. (The journey exhausted the travellers.)
  • Constant criticism outwore her confidence over time. (Repeated criticism wore away her self-assurance.)

• To survive or endure through a period:

  • He outwore the storm in a small shelter. (He survived the storm by staying inside.)
  • She outwore her illness with careful treatment. (She endured and recovered from her illness.)

Advanced Usage

• "to outwore one's welcome": to stay or be present so long that one is no longer welcome.

  • He outwore his welcome at the party by staying until midnight. (He stayed too long and became unwelcome.)

• "to outwore the day": to pass the time until evening.

  • They outwore the day by reading and talking. (They spent the entire day until nightfall.)

Variants and Related Words

• Outwear (verb, base form): to last longer than; to exhaust.
  • This fabric will outwear many others. (This fabric is more durable.)
• Outworn (past participle): exhausted or made obsolete by use or time.
  • The outworn shoes were discarded. (The shoes were too old and worn to use.)

Synonyms

• Outlast: to last longer than.
• Outlasted: past tense of outlast.
• Exhausted: completely drained of energy.
• Endured: suffered through or survived.

Phrasal Verbs

• Outwear something: to use something until it is no longer usable.
  • He outwore his boots after hiking for years. (He used the boots until they fell apart.)

Related Idioms

• Wear out one's welcome: to stay too long and become unwelcome.

  • She outwore her welcome at her friend's house. (She stayed longer than she was wanted.)

• Wear thin: to become less effective or acceptable over time.

  • His excuses outwore their patience; they no longer believed him. (His excuses exhausted their tolerance.)