WORN-OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does worn-out mean? 

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

1. used until no longer useful

2. drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• WORN-OUT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used until no longer useful

Synonyms:

raddled; worn-out

Context example:

worn-out shoes with flapping soles

Similar:

worn (affected by wear; damaged by long use)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted

Synonyms:

dog-tired; exhausted; fagged; fatigued; gone; played out; spent; washed-out; worn-out; worn out

Context example:

you look worn out

Similar:

tired (depleted of strength or energy)

 Context examples 

The worn-out past was sunk in the freshness of what was coming; and in the rapidity of half a moment's thought, she hoped Mr. Elton would now be talked of no more.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Later his feet grew hard to the trail, and the worn-out foot-gear was thrown away.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

By no possible process of cruelty, starvation, or disease could this worn-out wreck be the still beautiful Lady Frances.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As I shall not have occasion to refer either to her or her sister again, I may as well mention here, that Georgiana made an advantageous match with a wealthy worn-out man of fashion, and that Eliza actually took the veil, and is at this day superior of the convent where she passed the period of her novitiate, and which she endowed with her fortune.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And when, in addition to this, the worn-out huskies pulled weakly, Hal decided that the orthodox ration was too small.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Generally he was one of these worn-out men: when he wasn't working he sat on a chair in the doorway and stared at the people and the cars that passed along the road.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)