(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
"The river's constant flow has worn away the soft sandstone cliffs, leaving behind smooth, rounded boulders."
The mechanical process of eroding or grinding.
"The relentless wind and sand were wearing away at the ancient stone monument over centuries."
"The hat was wearing thin after months of sun exposure."
Usage: Use this noun to describe the gradual wearing away of surfaces through friction, such as road damage caused by heavy traffic. It is often confused with the verb form but specifically refers to the physical erosion itself rather than the act of putting on clothing.
present participle of wear
"She was wearing a bright yellow raincoat as she hurried to catch the bus in the storm."
In plain English: Wearing means having something on your body, like clothes or jewelry.
"She is wearing a bright red coat today."
producing exhaustion
"an exhausting march"
"the visit was especially wearing"
intended to be worn
"The new sunglasses are wearing well, but I hope they last through the summer since they were specifically designed for intense sun exposure."
"The shoes were worn out from too much walking."
Wearing is a variant spelling of waring, which originally meant to argue or quarrel heatedly. The word entered English from the Old Norse verb verja, meaning to defend or fight back.