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tired
/ˈtaɪɚd/
needing rest or sleep
I'm so tired after work that I just want to sleep.
The speaker feels exhausted from working and wants to rest.
neutral
In need of sleep or rest; fatigued.
She felt tired after the long hike.
The physical exertion of hiking made her feel exhausted.
The tired parents finally fell asleep at midnight.
The parents, who were exhausted from caring for their baby, managed to sleep.
Can describe physical or mental fatigue. Often used with 'from' to specify the cause (e.g., 'tired from studying').
neutral
Less enthusiastic or effective due to overuse or repetition.
The joke was so old it made the audience tired.
The repeated joke lost its humor due to overuse.
Commonly used to describe things like jokes, arguments, or routines that have lost their impact.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid using 'tired' to describe objects (e.g., 'a tired chair' is incorrect). Use 'worn out' or 'old' instead.
Gold Rule
Collocation Rule
Use 'tired of' to express boredom or annoyance (e.g., 'I'm tired of this weather'). Use 'tired from' to describe the cause of fatigue (e.g., 'tired from running').
Word Origin
From Middle English 'tired', past participle of 'tire' (to become weary), from Old English 'tēorian' (to fail, become weak). Related to Old Norse 'þreyta' (to weary).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in everyday speech. Can be intensified with adverbs like 'very', 'extremely', or 'completely'. Avoid using 'tired' to describe objects (e.g., not 'a tired book').
Word Breakdown
tire
to become weary
root-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary