Wear down
phrasal verb
Base: wear down | Past: wore down | Past Participle: worn down | -ing: wearing down | 3rd person: wears down
Definition
1. To make someone gradually weaker or less determined through continuous pressure.
2. To become smaller, smoother, or flatter through constant rubbing or use.
2. To become smaller, smoother, or flatter through constant rubbing or use.
Context Alive
The negotiations had been going on for three days straight. The other side kept pushing the same demands over and over, clearly trying to wear down the team until someone gave in. By the third evening, exhaustion was starting to win.
Meanings
2 meanings
1
Make Someone Weaker or Less Determined Through Pressure (Phrasal Verb)
Very Common
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This meaning is about gradually breaking someone’s resistance through constant pressure. Imagine a child who keeps asking for ice cream — please, please, please — for an hour straight until the parent finally says yes, completely worn down by the endless requests. This is wearing someone down — slowly exhausting their ability to say no. You might say “she finally wore me down and I agreed” or “the constant criticism is wearing him down.” Or picture a lawyer repeating the same tough questions in court until the witness starts getting confused and tired. The word suggests a slow, grinding process — not one big hit, but many small ones. ✏️ This is different from “wear out” — wearing down targets someone’s willpower or resistance, while wearing out means making them physically exhausted.
Vivid ExampleThe kids begged for a puppy every single day for months. They finally wore down their dad with photos, promises, and those big sad eyes. By December, there was a golden retriever under the Christmas tree.
2
Become Smaller or Smoother Through Constant Use (Phrasal Verb)
Common
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This meaning is about physical surfaces gradually losing material through rubbing, friction, or repeated use. Imagine looking at an old stone staircase in a castle where thousands of feet have walked over centuries, and each step is worn down into a smooth curve in the middle. This is physical wearing down — slow erosion from constant contact. You might notice your shoe heels have worn down on one side, or a dentist could say your teeth are wearing down from grinding. Or think about an old pencil that’s worn down to a tiny stub after weeks of writing. The word points to something disappearing bit by bit over time. ✏️ This meaning works both with and without an object — “the steps wore down” or “walking wore the steps down.”
Vivid ExampleShe looked at her favourite running shoes and sighed. The soles had completely worn down after hundreds of kilometres on the pavement. It was finally time to buy a new pair.
Examples from the Street
“She kept asking until she finally wore me down.”
She kept pressuring me until I eventually gave in and said yes
“Years of stress had really worn him down.”
The long period of pressure had gradually drained his energy and spirit
“Don’t let them wear you down — stand your ground.”
Don’t let them slowly break your resistance — stay firm
Common Patterns
wear someone down → gradually overcome someone’s resistance through persistent pressure
wear down someone’s resistance/defences/patience → slowly break through someone’s ability to resist or stay firm
finally/eventually wear someone down → succeed in overcoming resistance after a long effort
be worn down by (something) → have your strength or willpower gradually destroyed by something
don’t let them wear you down → advice to stay strong and not give in to persistent pressure
wear someone down (physically/mentally) → gradually drain someone’s energy, health, or morale over time
wear down the opposition/enemy → weaken an opponent gradually rather than defeating them in one go
worn down by years of (something) → exhausted or damaged after a long period of difficulty
the constant (something) wears you down → repeated difficulty gradually takes its toll on you
wear down (a surface/material) → gradually make something thinner or smoother through repeated friction
worn down (to something) → reduced in size or sharpness through long use
get worn down (by weather/use) → become gradually eroded or damaged over time
Collocations
2 collocationswear someone down
gradually exhaust a person's resistance
wear down the opposition
slowly weaken the other side
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The children kept begging for ice cream until they wore their mother down and she finally said yes
The kids kept pleading for a frozen treat repeatedly until their mum gave in and agreed.
2
His constant complaining wore down everyone’s patience in the office
His non-stop moaning gradually used up all the tolerance his colleagues had.
3
After months of negotiation, we eventually wore them down and they accepted our offer
After a long period of back-and-forth discussions, we finally got them to give in and agree to our proposal.
4
She was worn down by years of working double shifts with no holidays
She was gradually exhausted after a long period of doing twice the normal hours without any time off.
5
The lawyer’s strategy was to wear down the witness’s defences with relentless questioning
The legal professional’s plan was to gradually break through the person’s composure by asking one tough question after another without stopping.
6
Don’t let the negativity wear you down — you’re doing a great job
Don’t allow all the pessimism to slowly drain your confidence — you’re performing really well.
7
The constant pressure wears you down after a while, no matter how strong you are
The never-ending demands gradually drain your energy over time, regardless of how resilient you think you are.
8
The army’s plan was to wear down the opposition by cutting off their supply lines
The military’s strategy was to gradually weaken the enemy by stopping their access to food and equipment.
9
The steps of the old cathedral had been worn down by centuries of footsteps
The stairs of the ancient church had been gradually made smooth and shallow by hundreds of years of people walking on them.
10
My running shoes are completely worn down — I need a new pair
My trainers have lost all their grip and cushioning from heavy use — I need to buy replacements.
Learner Examples
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Learning grammar rules that never seem to stick can wear students down, which is why teachers need to keep lessons fresh and encouraging
Studying language structures that refuse to stay in your memory can gradually drain learners’ motivation, which is why instructors must keep their classes varied and supportive.
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Don’t let difficult exams wear you down — every test you sit is building your confidence for the next one
Don’t allow challenging tests to slowly break your spirit — each one you take is making you stronger and more prepared for what comes after.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
3 items
Phrasal Verbswear out — exhaust completely
The long hike completely wore us out by evening.
grind down — weaken through persistence
The constant criticism slowly ground her down over time.
wear off — gradually diminish
The excitement of the new job wore off after a month.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsexhaust
tire out
weaken
reduce strength
erode
gradually diminish
tire out
make exhausted
Antonymsbuild up
increase strength
energize
give energy