What does "tired" mean?
simple past and past participle of tire
Tired
/[ˈtaɪ̯əd]/ adj, verb, slang
adj, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: simple past and past participle of tire
- Grammar: tired is listed as adj, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: banal, hackneyed, trite, absent energy.
- Useful contrasts: alert, awake, complete energy.
- Usage evidence: "If you're tired, why don't you go to sleep?" "Because if I go to sleep now I will wake up too early."
How to use "tired"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tired" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tired" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tired" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tired" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tired" is acting as adj, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "banal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tired", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 simple past and past participle of tire form-of, participle, past
Adjective
- 1 In need of some rest or sleep.
"The famous words of Emma Lazarus on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty read: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Until 1921 this was an accurate picture of our society. Under present law it would be appropriate to add: “as long as they come from Northern Europe, are not too tired or too poor or slightly ill, never stole a loaf of bread, never joined any questionable organization, and can document their activities for the past two years.”"
- 2 Alternative form of tyred. alt-of, alternative, not-comparable
"With the replacement of the horse by the automobile these detrimental effects would disappear. The cost of road maintenance in parks and elsewhere would be reduced to a minimum, with the action of the elements as the only cause of “wear,” while the “tear,” which proceeds entirely from the impact of horses’ feet and the cutting of metal-tired carriage wheels would be entirely done away with."
- 3 Fed up, annoyed, irritated, sick of.
"I'm tired of this"
- 4 Overused, cliché.
"a tired song"
- 5 Old and worn.
"a tired-looking hotel room"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Played out, ineffectual; incompetent derogatory, slang
"They even went so far as to question whether indigenous peoples are 'peoples' in a tired attempt to deny the status of indigenous peoples in order to deny their right to self-determination."
Adjective
- 1 repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse wordnet
- 2 depleted of strength or energy wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
""If you're tired, why don't you go to sleep?" "Because if I go to sleep now I will wake up too early.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tired"?
Common synonyms include: banal, hackneyed, trite, absent energy, all in, appareled.
How do you use "tired" in a sentence?
"If you're tired, why don't you go to sleep?" "Because if I go to sleep now I will wake up too early."
How do you pronounce "tired"?
Pronounced /[ˈtaɪ̯əd]/.