Wore vs. Worn
“Wore” and “worn” are different forms of the irregular verb “wear.” “Wore” is the simple past, while “worn” is the past participle used in perfect constructions.
Use “wore” for the simple past and “worn” as the past participle, especially after have/has/had.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Context | Use | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| simple past with no auxiliary | wore | Use “wore” for the simple past. |
| past participle after have/has/had | worn | Use “worn” in perfect constructions. |
| participle in passive/adjectival use | worn | Use the participle where grammar requires it. |
Quick tests
Decision test
Is the form following have/has/had or otherwise functioning as a past participle?
If yes: Use “worn.”
If no: Use “wore” for the simple past.
Caveat: These are distinct inflected forms of “wear,” not interchangeable style variants.
Examples
She wore the blue jacket yesterday.
“Wore” is the simple past.
She has worn that jacket many times.
“Worn” is the past participle after “has.”
The worn handle was replaced.
“Worn” functions as a participial adjective.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Wore” is the simple-past form of “wear”; “worn” is the past participle used with auxiliaries such as have, has, or had.
Fast Test
If have, has, or had directly governs the form of “wear,” choose “worn.” For a standalone finite past-tense verb, choose “wore.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- wear — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Cambridge lists wore as the past tense and worn as the past participle of wear.