WELL-WORN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does well-worn mean? 

• WELL-WORN (adjective)
  The adjective WELL-WORN has 2 senses:

1. showing signs of much wear or use

2. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

  Familiarity information: WELL-WORN used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WELL-WORN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Showing signs of much wear or use

Similar:

worn (affected by wear; damaged by long use)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

Synonyms:

banal; commonplace; hackneyed; old-hat; shopworn; stock; threadbare; timeworn; tired; trite; well-worn

Context example:

the trite metaphor 'hard as nails'

Similar:

unoriginal (not original; not being or productive of something fresh and unusual)

 Context examples 

"On the contrary, I like it very much, dear," looking from the dusty rosary to the well-worn little book, and the lovely picture with its garland of evergreen.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Brissenden paused and ran an insolent eye over Martin's objective poverty, passing from the well-worn tie and the saw- edged collar to the shiny sleeves of the coat and on to the slight fray of one cuff, winding up and dwelling upon Martin's sunken cheeks.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

In a minute Amy went back to her place, and while she dried her tears, Laurie gathered up the scattered papers, finding in the sight of sundry well-worn letters and suggestive sketches good omens for the future.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You say nothing about your trials, failures, or successes, and think, perhaps, that no one sees them but the Friend whose help you daily ask, if I may trust the well-worn cover of your guidebook.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Often when she woke Jo found Beth reading in her well-worn little book, heard her singing softly, to beguile the sleepless night, or saw her lean her face upon her hands, while slow tears dropped through the transparent fingers, and Jo would lie watching her with thoughts too deep for tears, feeling that Beth, in her simple, unselfish way, was trying to wean herself from the dear old life, and fit herself for the life to come, by sacred words of comfort, quiet prayers, and the music she loved so well.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)