Tired usually describes how someone feels; tiring describes something that causes tiredness.
The idea
Use tired for a person’s state: I am tired. Use tiring for an activity that causes that state: the journey was tiring. Tired of waiting can mean fed up with waiting.
Examples
- I am tired after work.
- The long journey was tiring.
- She is tired of waiting.
- We were tired but happy.
- He feels tired today.
- The job is tiring but rewarding.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.
No English device voice is available. You can still read the examples.
Watch out
Do not replace tired with tiring when you mean how you feel. Tired of can express frustration, not only physical fatigue.
Try it yourself
Describe the person’s feeling. I am ___ after work. (tired / tiring)
Show answer or example answer
tired
tired describes the person’s feeling.
Describe the journey that causes fatigue. The long journey was ___. (tired / tiring)
Show answer or example answer
tiring
tiring describes the journey that causes fatigue.
Complete the expression meaning fed up with waiting. She is tired ___ waiting. (of / from)
Show answer or example answer
of
of completes the expression tired of waiting.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Describe the person’s feeling. I am ___ after work. (tired / tiring)
Describe the journey that causes fatigue. The long journey was ___. (tired / tiring)
Complete the expression meaning fed up with waiting. She is tired ___ waiting. (of / from)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Describe a tiring activity and how you feel afterwards.