Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

worn-out

/ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.26 in modern English

Syllables: worn-out
IPA: /ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Damaged due to continued or hard exposure or use until no longer effective or useful.

adj

Of a person or animal: exhausted or fatigued from exertion.

Example Sentences

"There is no challenge in fighting a worn-out old man."
"He still wears his old worn-out shoes."
"You can barely read the worn-out logo on those shoes."
"Her feet were frosted from exposure, in her old worn-out shoes, and it was only a question of time as to when she would succumb and be carried to the hospital."
"The worn-out soccer players lined up to congratulate the other team."

Etymology

From worn (adjective; and past participle of wear) + out.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/
British English: /ˈwɔːn.aʊt/

Inflected Forms

more worn-out (comparative) most worn-out (superlative)

Phrases

wear away wear down wear off wear out wear thin

Frequently Paired Words

outworn wear wear away wear down wear off wear out wear thin

Synonyms

outworn clapped out damaged defective deteriorated dilapidated effete faulty munted passé past it past one's prime

Questions

How do you pronounce worn-out?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/.
What does worn-out mean?: Damaged due to continued or hard exposure or use until no longer effective or useful.
Where does worn-out come from?: From worn (adjective; and past participle of wear) + out.

How to pronounce worn-out

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “worn-out”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈwɔɹnˌaʊt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “worn-out”.
Repeat and practice — Say “worn-out” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.