tired
/ˈtaɪəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtaɪərd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtī(-ə)rd/ (ame, mw)
tired — adjective
- tiredpositive
- more tiredcomparative
- most tiredsuperlative
1. feeling a need for rest or sleep after your body or mind has been working hard f
feeling a need for rest or sleep after your body or mind has been working hard for a period of time.
After walking ten kilometres, Élise felt too tired to cook dinner.
tired + too [adj] to [verb]
The night-shift nurse looked tired after twelve hours on her feet.
looked / felt / seemed tired
Hugo was so tired from studying that he fell asleep at his desk.
A short nap helped Noor feel less tired before her evening class.
文法句型
tired + (from/after) + noun/verb-ing
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'from' to state the cause ('tired from walking') and 'after' to state timing ('tired after work'). The intensifier 'so' is frequent in spoken English: 'I'm so tired I can't think straight.'
常見錯誤
2. used to describe a joke, story, idea, or expression that is no longer interestin
used to describe a joke, story, idea, or expression that is no longer interesting or effective because it has been repeated too many times.
The audience groaned at another tired joke about airline food.
tired joke / tired phrase / tired expression
Adina argued that the 'starving artist' stereotype had become a tired cliché.
Every election season, politicians recycle the same tired promises.
Noor rolled her eyes at yet another tired comparison to a celebrity.
文法句型
tired + noun (joke/idea/expression/phrase)
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears before a noun (attributive position). It is common in opinion writing, reviews, and critical commentary about media, politics, or advertising.
常見錯誤
3. no longer interested in or willing to continue doing something because you have
no longer interested in or willing to continue doing something because you have done it too much or it is not new anymore.
After three years of the same routine, Eri grew tired of working in an office.
grew/became/got tired of + verb-ing
Sofia is tired of hearing the same pop songs on the radio every morning.
tired of + hearing/seeing/doing
The children were tired of playing board games and wanted to go outside.
Putri was tired of waiting for the bus, so she walked home instead.
- bored with
similar meaning but less specific about the 'done too much' aspect; more neutral
- sick of
informal and stronger; implies irritation
- weary of
more formal and literary; suggests a long, wearying experience
- interested in
finding something engaging
- keen on
enthusiastic about
文法句型
tired of + noun / verb-ing
用法筆記
This sense always takes the complement 'of' + noun or gerund (verb-ing). It describes a gradual emotional state rather than a sudden reaction. The pattern 'get / grow / become tired of' is very common.
常見錯誤
4. feeling angry or unhappy with someone or a situation because their behaviour or
feeling angry or unhappy with someone or a situation because their behaviour or the situation has continued for too long and you want it to stop.
Christopher is tired of his neighbour playing loud music after midnight every weekend.
The residents got tired of the city's slow response to their safety concerns.
got/became tired of + noun phrase (with negative emotion)
Obi was tired of people making excuses instead of fixing the problem.
After months of broken promises, Saira grew tired of the landlord's excuses.
- fed up with
informal; equally strong, very common in British and American speech
- annoyed at
focuses on the irritation itself rather than duration
- exasperated with
stronger; suggests all patience is gone
- satisfied with
content with how things are
文法句型
tired of + noun/verb-ing (with annoyed/unhappy connotation)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 describes general boredom or loss of interest, while sense 4 includes active annoyance or anger directed at someone's behaviour. The context often includes a specific grievance. Common in complaints and confrontational situations.