This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
1
[ tahyuhr ]
/ taɪər /
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See synonyms for: tire / tired / tiring on Thesaurus.com
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used with object), tired, tir·ing.
to reduce or exhaust the strength of, as by exertion; make weary; fatigue (often followed by out): The long walk tired him.
to exhaust the interest, patience, etc., of; make weary; bore: Your stories tire me.
verb (used without object), tired, tir·ing.
to have the strength reduced or exhausted, as by labor or exertion; become fatigued; be sleepy.
to have one's appreciation, interest, patience, etc., exhausted; become or be weary; become bored (usually followed by of): He soon tired of playing billiards.
noun
British Dialect. fatigue.
2 exasperate, irk.
See synonyms for tire on Thesaurus.com
If you're from Kentucky, maybe you've heard this word before. If you're not from Kentucky, do you know what it means?
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ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ
There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!
Question 1 of 7
True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English tire(n), teoren “to diminish, weaken,” Old English tȳrian, tēorian “to faint, cause to faint”; further etymology uncertain
tiramisu, Tiran, Tirana, Tiranë, Tiraspol, tire, tire chain, tired, tired out, Tiree, tire iron
tire2
[ tahyuhr ]
/ taɪər /
noun
a ring or band of rubber, either solid or hollow and inflated, or of metal, placed over the rim of a wheel to provide traction, resistance to wear, or other desirable properties.
a metal band attached to the outside of the felloes and forming the tread of a wagon wheel.
verb (used with object), tired, tir·ing.
to furnish with tires.
Also British, tyre .
2
First recorded in 1475–85; special use of tire3 (in the sense “dress, attire, accouterment (for a wheel”)
tire3
[ tahyuhr ]
/ taɪər /
verb (used with object), tired, tir·ing.
Archaic. to dress (the head or hair), especially with a headdress.
Obsolete. to attire or array.
noun
Archaic. a headdress.
Obsolete. attire or dress.
3
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tire(n), teren “to clothe, dress, equip (a knight) for battle”; shortening of attire
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc.
2023
annoy, bore, depress, disgust, dishearten, dispirit, displease, drain, exasperate, fail, fatigue, irk, irritate, jade, overwork, wear, worry, bush, collapse, crawl
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tire1
/ (ˈtaɪə) /
verb
(tr) to reduce the energy of, esp by exertion; weary
(tr; often passive) to reduce the tolerance of; bore or irritateI'm tired of the children's chatter
(intr) to become wearied or bored; flag
Old English tēorian, of unknown origin
tire2
/ (ˈtaɪə) /
noun, verb
the US spelling of tyre
tire3
/ (ˈtaɪə) /
verb, noun
an archaic word for attire
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co.
Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
1
[ tahyuhrd ]
/ taɪərd /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for tired on Thesaurus.com
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
exhausted, as by exertion; fatigued or sleepy: a tired runner.
weary or bored (usually followed by of): tired of the same food every day.
hackneyed; stale, as a joke, phrase, or sermon.
Informal. impatient or disgusted: You make me tired.
1 enervated.
See synonyms for tired on Thesaurus.com
1 rested; energetic.
See antonyms for tired on Thesaurus.com
QUIZ
ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ
There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!
Question 1 of 7
True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.
1
First recorded in 1350–1400, tired is from the Middle English word tyred.See tire1, -ed2
1. Tired, exhausted, fatigued, wearied, weary suggest a condition in which a large part of one's energy and vitality has been consumed.
One who is tired has used up a considerable part of his or her bodily or mental resources: to feel tired at the end of the day. One who is exhausted is completely drained of energy and vitality, usually because of arduous or long-sustained effort: exhausted after a hard run. One who is fatigued has consumed energy to a point where rest and sleep are demanded: feeling rather pleasantly fatigued. One who is wearied has been under protracted exertion or strain that has gradually worn out his or her strength: wearied by a long vigil. Weary suggests a more permanent condition than wearied: weary of struggling against misfortunes.
Tirana, Tiranë, Tiraspol, tire, tire chain, tired, tired out, Tiree, tire iron, tireless, tirelessly
tired2
[ tahyuhrd ]
/ taɪərd /
adjective
having a tire or tires.
2
First recorded in 1890–95; tire2 + -ed3
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
annoyed, bored, distressed, drained, exasperated, fatigued, irritated, overworked, sleepy, stale, beat, collapsing, consumed, drooping, empty, enervated, fagged, faint, finished, flagging
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tired
/ (ˈtaɪəd) /
adjective
weary; fatigued
(foll by of)
hackneyed; stalethe same tired old jokes
tired and emotional euphemistic slightly drunk
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
In addition to the idiom beginning with tired
also see:
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
In English, there are pairs of adjectives that differ only in the ending: either - ing or - ed . But it is the ending that determines the meaning of the word. What is their difference, what adjectives will we use in what cases? Let's figure it out.
Adjectives in — ing describe the qualities and characteristics of an object or person, report some property. They are most often translated into Russian by adjectives.
This book is very interesting . – This book is very interesting .
She finds her job exhausting . – She finds her job exhausting .
It was an exciting experience for her. – It was an exciting experience for her.
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Adjectives in — ed indicate a person's feelings, emotions, or state of being. In Russian, we usually translate such an adjective as a verb or participle, sometimes as a noun, adverb, or other parts of speech.
I'm interested in landscape design. – I am interested in landscaping.
At the end of the day she is often exhausted . – Often at the end of the working day she is tired .
She is excited about going to Portugal.
If we confuse the ending of an adjective, a person will not understand us at best. And sometimes such errors may not be obvious. An excellent example of such ambiguity is shown by adjectives boring and bored .
- I'm boring .
Let's go home. – I am boring . Go home.
- You are not boring , you are quite an interesting person. – You are not boring , you are quite an interesting person.
- Sorry, I meant I'm bored . Let's go home. – Sorry, I wanted to say that I am bored . Go home.
Self-criticism is good, but not when the meaning of the sentence changes. Remember that a person is boring ( boring ) if the others next to him look bored ( bored ).
Let's look at another example with the adjectives amazing and amazed .
Roger looked amazing in the picture. – Roger looked amazing in the photo.
Roger looked amazed in the picture. – Roger looked shocked by in the photo.
As you can see, the choice of adjective will completely change the meaning of the sentence. In the first example, we are talking about Roger's characterization - amazing. In the second sentence, we report on his condition - shocked.
There is one more feature of adjectives in - ing and - ed : they are formed from verbs, so some of the features of the verbs are preserved. For example, after adjectives on - ed , we can use the preposition that the verb had, if further in the sentence it is indicated what caused this state. Prepositions are best specified in the dictionary, because their use in English and Russian can be very different. And do not forget that this feature does not apply to adjectives ending - ing .
My legs usually begin to tire of walking for a long time. – My legs usually get tired from long walks.
I’m tired of your constant complaints. - I'm tired of your constant complaints.
He didn’t inspire me with his determination.
– He did not inspire me with his determination.
She was inspired with his enthusiasm. – She was inspired by by his enthusiasm.
If the sentence does not indicate what caused the state, then the preposition is not used.
The weather makes me feel depressed . – The weather makes feel depressed .
We were all horrified . – We were all in the horror of .
We invite you to take a look at the table with the most common verbs and adjectives formed from them.
| Verb | - ing adjective | - ed adjective |
|---|---|---|
| to amaze | amazing | amazed - amazed, shocked |
| to amuse - amuse, amuse | amusing amusing | amused - amused |
to annoy | annoying - annoying, annoying | annoyed | annoyed |
| to astonish - to amaze, surprise | astonishing amazing | astonished - surprised, amazed |
| to bore bore | boring - boring | bored bored |
| to charm | charming | charmed - charmed | |
| to confuse - confuse, confuse | confusing confusing, embarrassing | confused - confused, confused |
| to depress - oppress, suppress | depressing - dull, overwhelming | depressed - depressed, depressed |
| to disappoint to upset | disappointing - frustrating | disappointed - upset |
to disgust | disgusting - disgusting | disgusted disgusted | |
| to disturb to disturb | disturbing - disturbing | disturbed - disturbed |
| to embarrass - embarrass | embarrassing embarrassing | embarrassed embarrassed |
| to encourage to encourage | encouraging - encouraging | encouraged - inspired |
| to entertain to entertain | entertaining - entertaining | entertained - entertained |
| to excite | exciting - exciting, exciting | excited excited |
| to exhaust | exhausting0204 | exhausted - exhausted | |
to fascinate | fascinating attractive, charming | fascinated | |
| to frighten | frightening | frightened - frightened |
| to frustrate to frustrate | frustrating - frustrating | frustrated |
| to fulfill | fulfilling | fulfilled - fulfilled |
| to horrify - scare, horrify | horrifying | horrified |
| to inspire - inspire | inspiring - inspiring | inspired - inspired by |
| to insult to insult | insulting - insulting | insulted - insulted |
| to interest to interest | interesting - interesting | interested - interested |
| to irritate - anger, annoy | irritating | irritated irritated |
| to puzzle | puzzling puzzling | puzzled |
| to relax to relax | relaxing - relaxing | relaxed relaxed |
| to shock | shocking | shocked shocked |
| to surprise - to surprise | surprising | surprised - surprised | |
| to tempt | tempting tempting | tempted tempted |
| to terrify - terrify, frighten | terrifying | terrified terrified |
| to threaten to threaten | threatening | threatened - threatened |
| to thrill - to excite, to excite | thrilling | thrilled - excited, excited |
| to tire | tiring - tiresome | tired - tired |
| to trouble | troubling | troubled - troubled |
| to worry - worry, disturb | worrying - anxious, exciting | worried - anxious, worried |
In fact, words ending in - ing and - ed are participles that function as adjectives, so the general rules for the formation of degrees of comparison of adjectives work here differently.
In order to form a comparative degree, we will use the words more (more) and less (less). In superlatives, the most (most, most) and the least (least, most non-) come to our aid.
I became more intrigued when he mentioned her name. – I became more interested in when he mentioned her name.
The film was less fascinating than I thought. – The movie was less exciting than I thought.
These were the most encouraging words I've ever heard. – These were the most inspiring words I have ever heard.
He was the least irritated person in the room. – He was the least annoyed person in the room.
The endings - er and - est are not used here. This can be explained by the fact that such adjectives already have their own endings: - ing or - ed . That is, English speakers simply wanted to avoid piling up letters at the end of a word.
If you have any other questions about this topic, tutor engvid James will help answer them.
And finally, we invite you to take a test to test your knowledge on this topic and download a list of weak and strong adjectives.
↓ Download the list of words on the topic "Adjectives with -ing and -ed in English" (*.pdf, 190 Kb)
Test
Adjectives with -ing and -ed endings in English
Insert an -ing or -ed adjective from the suggested verb.
Exercise 1.
to disturb
He looked as if he has lost something.
Task 2.
to fascinate
Our journey to Tibet was .
Task 3.
to shock
He revealed the truth about his past.
Task 4.
to surprise
We were highly when we saw him at the meeting.
Task 5.
to insult
His words towards Mrs. Barrington were.
Task 6.
to thrill
They were by his news.
Task 7.
to confuse
Nancy was when Charles asked her out.
Task 8.
to relax
I was lying on the beach listening to music.
Task 9.
to puzzle
The situation was but we were not .
Task 10.
to tire
This work is . I feel.
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Did you understand the topic well? Try our other English -ing and -ed adjectives quiz.
If you find a mistake, please highlight the text and press Ctrl+Enter .
Present Continuous Tense (or Present Progressive Tense) is translated from English as “real long time”. In English speech, it is used on a par with Present Simple, with the same frequency, and occupies an important place in grammar.
When present continuous is used - when it is required to emphasize the duration of the action in the present. The limits of "duration" can be different: the action can continue indefinitely or take a certain period of time - all these are cases of using Present Continuous.
According to the rules of the English language, any sentence is built in a certain order. In affirmative sentences, the subject comes first and the verb comes second. In Present Continuous, the predicate is made up of the auxiliary verb to be and the main (semantic) verb that expresses the action. To be takes the correct form (am, is, are) depending on the subject, and the main verb takes on the ending -ing.
Adding the ending -ing to the verb is a general rule. However, adding an ending can transform the stem of some verbs when forming the Present Continuous.
When the Present Continuous is used in negative sentences, the auxiliary and main verbs are separated by not.
In cases of using Present Continuous in interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb takes the first place, followed by the subject and then the main verb.
1. The action is happening right now, at the moment of speaking. You can also use the Present
Continuous construction for several actions occurring simultaneously in the present. Marker words: now (now), at the moment (at the moment).
Example: She is eating apple while I am drinking juice - She is eating an apple while I am drinking juice. (two actions happening at the same time)
2. The action is extended in time and takes place in the present, but is not limited to the present second. It started some time ago and will continue for some time. During this period of time, the indicated action is performed.
Marker words: now (now), currently (now, now), these days (These days, one of these days).
Example: We are moving into a new house - We are moving to a new house. (We are busy with the process of moving and will continue it, but at the moment of speaking we are not specifically busy with this, we are just in a state of moving)
3. The situation is temporary.
Marker words: until (yet), for (during), during (during).
Example: He is staying in New York for three months - He has been staying in New York for three months. (in three months, for some reason, he will leave New York, his stay in this city will end; this situation is temporary, he permanently lives, for example, in Moscow, and is in New York for work or in connection with study)
4. The action is developing or constantly changing, the sentence often contains certain verbs to indicate it. The description of the process of change is a case of using the Present Continuous. Marker words: get (become), change (change), rise (rise), fall (fall), grow (grow), become (become), start (begin), improve (improve), begin (begin). Example: Your English is getting better - Your English is getting better. (there is a gradual increase in your level of English)
1. The matter is planned and will certainly be done in the near future, often with a date, place, or some other details.
Marker words: this/next week (this/next week), tonight (evening), today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this/next year (this/next year), this/next weekend ( this/next weekend).
Example: Next week we are buying a new car - Next week we are buying a new car. (we have not just decided, but have already chosen the brand of the car and the car dealership where the purchase will be made)
2. This is an action in the present, affecting the near future, using verbs denoting movement.
Marker words: go (go), move (move), leave (leave), start (start), come (come), return (return).
Example: I'm tired. I am going to bed. - I'm tired. I am going to sleep. (Right now I'm feeling tired and I'll go to bed right after I report this)
3. Speech is emotionally colored, the speaker is dissatisfied, irritated or outraged by something that constantly happens.
Marker words: all the time (all the time), always (always), constantly (constantly)
Example: You are always interrupting me! - You keep interrupting me! (you do it all the time and it annoys me)
4. Present Continuous - cases of use with state verbs.
Such verbs in English are not normally used in the present time, because they denote feelings, mental processes that have no time limits - these verbs express a state rather than an action.
However, if the meaning of such a verb you need is a specific action, having a beginning and an end, then the phrase can be built according to the Present Continuous formula.
Marker words: to love (to love), to feel (to feel), to wish (to wish), to think (to think), to see (to see), to look (to look), to smell (to smell), to have (to have) and others
Examples: The steak tastes good. - This steak tastes great. (the steak cooked according to this recipe is always delicious) The chef is tasting the steak. - The chef is tasting the steak. (he is doing it at the moment)
1. It is about something new with opposition to the old.
Example: He has left university, now he is working with his friend - He left the university and now works with your friend.
2. This is about the unusual behavior of a certain person, he suddenly began to behave differently than before.
Example: She is eating too much - She eats too much. (before that, she did not have such a good appetite)
3. Present Continuous is used in subordinate clauses of time after conjunctions. The sentence refers to two actions, one of which is single or “short” (Present Simple), the second is long (Present Continuous). For an action that occurs “in the background”, use Present Continuous, and for an event interrupting it, use Present Simple.
Marker words: as long as (while), when (when), in case (if), if (if), while (while), unless (not yet).
