wear on
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (intransitive) 1. To pass or elapse slowly and often tediously: Used to describe the gradual, sometimes wearying, passage of time, especially when waiting or during an uneventful or difficult period.
Usage
- The phrase "wear on" is used to describe how time progresses, emphasizing that it feels slow, long, or burdensome.
- It is typically used with subjects like "time," "the day," "the night," "the hours," "the weeks," etc.
- It often implies a sense of boredom, impatience, fatigue, or discomfort for the person experiencing the passage of time.
Examples
- As the meeting wore on, people began to lose focus.
- The winter wore on with no sign of warmer weather.
- She tried to stay patient as the hours wore on.
- The day wore on, and still there was no news from the hospital.
Advanced Usage
- "to wear on someone": To gradually cause someone to become irritated, tired, or impatient.
- His constant complaining began to wear on his colleagues.
Variants and Related Words
- Wear (verb): To diminish or erode through use, time, or exposure. (e.g., )
- Wearing (adjective): Causing physical or mental fatigue; tiring. (e.g., )
Synonyms
- Drag on
- Creep by
- Elapse slowly
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Wear down: To overcome resistance through persistent pressure or attrition.
- The negotiators hoped to wear down their opponents.
- Wear off: To diminish gradually and disappear.
- The effects of the medicine will wear off in a few hours.
Verb
- pass slowly (of time)
- The day wore on