Which preposition does Tired in English go with? All you need to know about Tired in English

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Tired in English is a fundamental adjective that English learners encounter frequently, yet many struggle with its proper usage, particularly when it comes to tired preposition combinations. Understanding the correct tired preposition usage, distinguishing between tired of or tired with, and mastering when to use tired with versus other prepositions can significantly improve your English fluency. In today's comprehensive guide, let's explore everything about tired in English with PREP!

I. What is Tired in English?
II. Which preposition does Tired in English go with?
III. Exercise on Tired in English

I. What is Tired in English?

Before we explore the tired preposition combinations used with tired in English, let's discover the definition, collocations, idioms, and synonyms of tired in English below!

1. Definition

In English, tired in English is pronounced /taɪrd/ and functions as an adjective, meaning: in need of sleep or rest; weary. Understanding tired in English usage helps you express fatigue accurately. For example:

I was so tired when I got home from work last night that I had a quick nap.
Anna spoke in a tired voice.

2. Synonyms of Tired in English

When learning tired in English, expanding your vocabulary with synonyms enhances your expression. Here are key alternatives to tired in English:

Synonym	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence
Exhausted	/ɪɡˈzɔstɪd/	drained of one's physical or mental resources; very tired	Lisa is too exhausted to take the dog for a walk.
Worn out	/wɔrn aʊt/	(of a person or animal) extremely tired; exhausted	I was completely worn out.
Burned out	/bɜrnd aʊt/	ill or very tired from working too hard	Jack was completely burned out after a full week of performances.
Drained	/dreɪnd/	very tired	I'd worked a twelve-hour day and was absolutely drained.
Wiped out	/waɪpt aʊt/	extremely tired	I've been up since 4 a.m. and am just wiped out.
Fatigued	/fəˈtiːɡd/	slightly or moderately tired, especially after effort	The morning workout left me slightly fatigued but energized.
Beat	/biːt/	completely exhausted; very tired (informal)	After a long day at work, I was totally beat.
Spent	/spɛnt/	having no energy left; extremely tired	By midnight, I was mentally and physically spent.
Depleted	/dɪˈpliːtɪd/	used up or worn out; lacking energy	The intensive training session left the athletes thoroughly depleted.
Dead tired	/dɛd ˈtaɪərd/	extremely tired	After the 12-hour shift, the nurses were absolutely dead tired.
Knackered*	/ˈnækərd/	very tired (British, informal)	I’m absolutely knackered after that hike.
Enervated	/ˈɛnərˌveɪtɪd/	lacking energy or vitality; extremely weak or tired (formal)	The illness left him completely enervated for several weeks.
Prostrated	/ˈprɒstreɪtɪd/	extremely tired or weak, especially due to illness or exertion (formal)	He lay prostrated by the heat, unable to move.

3. Idioms, collocations with Tired in English

Mastering idioms and collocations with tired in English elevates your language proficiency beyond basic usage:

Idiom	Meaning	Example Sentence
Dog tired	Extremely exhausted, completely worn out	"After working in the garden all day, I was dog tired."
Bone tired	Tired deep in your bones, exhausted to the core	"The miners emerged bone tired after their 12-hour shift underground."
Dead tired	Completely exhausted, unable to continue	"By midnight, the party guests were dead tired and ready to leave."
Sick and tired	Fed up, frustrated and exhausted with something	"I'm sick and tired of his constant excuses for being late."
Tired as a dog	Extremely fatigued (variation of dog tired)	"After the marathon, she was tired as a dog but proud of her achievement."
Tired to the bone	Exhausted throughout your entire body	"The construction workers were tired to the bone after the double shift."
Tired beyond belief	More exhausted than seems possible	"After staying awake for 36 hours straight, he was tired beyond belief."
Tired to death	Extremely exhausted (hyperbolic expression)	"The nurses were tired to death after working through the emergency."

II. Which preposition does Tired in English go with?

Understanding tired preposition combinations is crucial for proper tired in English usage. The question of tired of or tired with often confuses learners, but each tired preposition serves specific purposes. Let's explore the correct tired preposition usage in the table below:

Structure	Meaning	Example Sentence
Subject + to be + tired + of + sth/sb	Feeling bored, annoyed, or fed up with something or someone	I’m tired of working as a team with Mike, he is a lazy guy and always avoids responsibility.
Subject + to be + tired + with + sth/sb	Feeling physically tired because of doing something for a long time or using a lot of energy	I’m tired with playing tennis for 3 hours.
Subject + to be + tired + from + sth/sb	Feeling physically tired as a result of a specific activity	I take the bus when my legs get tired from walking.

The distinction between tired of or tired with becomes clearer when you understand that tired with indicates physical exhaustion from an activity, while "tired of" expresses emotional frustration or boredom. Many students ask tired about usage, but this combination is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

III. Exercise on Tired in English

Let's practice the exercises below to understand more about the tired preposition combinations used with tired in English!

Exercise: Choose the correct answer

I'm tired _______ working as a team with Mike, he is a lazy guy and always avoids responsibility.
- A. of
- B. from
- C. on
I _______ tired of hearing Tim brag about himself.
- A. be
- B. was
- C. am
I feel very tired _______ a long trip.
- A. after
- B. by
- C. along
Jack doesn't want to talk anymore. He's tired of _______ with her about house cleaning.
- A. argued
- B. arguing
- C. argue
Anna is tired _______ doing aerobics to lose weight fast.
- A. during
- B. with
- C. for

Exercise 2: Fill in the appropriate prepositions

(with - at - by - of - in)

The baby is very tired ______ the evening.
Patients often feel tired _______ the end of the day.
She was tired ______ hearing about their trip to India.
No need to try too hard, you are very tired _______ continuing working.
We're all tired _______ intense working hours.

Answer

Exercise 1	1 - A	2 - C	3 - B	4 - B	5 - B
Exercise 2	1 - in	2 - at	3 - of	4 - with	5 - by

PREP hopes that after reading this comprehensive guide about tired in English, you will have mastered the tired preposition combinations and understand the distinction between tired of or tired with. Remember that tired with indicates physical exhaustion, while avoiding incorrect usage like tired about. Keep following PREP for more valuable knowledge about tired in English and other essential grammar topics! Good luck with mastering English!

Chloe

Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.