worn-out

/ˌwɔːn ˈaʊt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwɔːrn ˈaʊt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwȯrn-ˈau̇t How to pronounce worn-out (audio)/ (ame, mw)

worn-out — adjective

1. so old or badly damaged from repeated use that it cannot do its job properly any

1.形容詞B2
釋義

so old or badly damaged from repeated use that it cannot do its job properly anymore.

例句

Feng replaced the worn-out brakes before the family drove into the mountains.

common collocation: worn-out brakes / parts

The school finally threw away its worn-out desks after years of repairs.

同義詞
  • worn

    broader and weaker; something worn may still work perfectly well

  • threadbare

    used mainly for cloth worn so thin that it is nearly bare

  • run-down

    often for buildings or machines that have been neglected over time

反義詞
  • new

    recently made or bought and not yet damaged by use

  • serviceable

    still in good enough condition to keep using

文法句型

worn-out + noun

be + worn out

用法筆記

Often used for things that have reached the point where repair no longer helps much. Distinguish from 'worn': a 'worn' object shows damage, while a 'worn-out' object is usually near the end of its useful life.

常見錯誤

❌My jacket is worn-out, but it only has one tiny loose button.
✅My jacket is worn, but it only has one tiny loose button.
💡use 'worn-out' only when the damage is heavy enough to make the item close to useless.
❌The shop sold worn-out winter boots as brand-new stock.
✅The shop sold worn winter boots as brand-new stock.
💡'worn-out' suggests the boots are too damaged to serve their purpose well.

2. so tired from work, worry, or physical effort that you have almost no energy lef

2.形容詞B1
釋義

so tired from work, worry, or physical effort that you have almost no energy left.

例句

After the night shift, Diya felt worn out before the bus even arrived.

feel + worn out

By sunset, Constanza was too worn out to carry another box downstairs.

too worn out to + verb

同義詞
  • exhausted

    stronger and slightly more formal; all energy seems gone

  • drained

    often stresses emotional or mental energy leaving you

  • dead tired

    very informal and emphatic

反義詞
  • rested

    having recovered energy after sleep or a break

  • refreshed

    feeling newly energetic again

文法句型

feel/look/be worn out

worn out from + noun/verb-ing

too worn out to + verb

用法筆記

Most often describes people after sustained effort, stress, or lack of sleep, and it is stronger than ordinary 'tired'. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about a person's energy, not an object's condition.

常見錯誤

❌I am worn out of answering customer emails.
✅I am worn out from answering customer emails.
💡use 'from' for the cause of exhaustion; 'of' suggests boredom or annoyance instead.
❌After one short walk, Kenji felt worn out.
✅After one short walk, Kenji felt a little tired.
💡'worn out' is stronger and suggests serious exhaustion.