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3. wear on

wear on

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wear on (for a period of time)

Fig. [for an event] to continue for a long period of time. The lecture seemed to wear on for hours. It wore on until I went to sleep.

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wear on someone

Fig. to bother or annoy someone. We stayed with them only a short time because my children seemed to wear on them. Always being short of money wears on a person after a while.

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wear something (up)on something

to have something on something as clothing or adornment. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) I wore a lovely diamond pin upon my blouse. I wore the flower on my lapel.

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wear (up)on someone

to diminish someone's energy and resistance; to bore or annoy someone. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) You could see that the lecture was beginning to wear upon the audience. This kind of thing really wears on me.

See also: on, wear

wear (up)on something

to grind or rub at something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) The bottom of the door is wearing upon the carpet and leaving marks. It is wearing on the carpet.

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wear on

v.

To pass gradually or tediously: The hours wore on as we completed our chores. As the day wore on, I became more and more tired.

See also: on, wear