French word

épuiser

Pronunciation

IPA/epɥize/

Meaning

  • verbwear out

Example

Cette journée m'épuise.

This day wears me out.

Illustration for épuiser (wear out)

More examples

Le bébé m'épuise.

The baby exhausts me.

Core concept

A pump drawing out every drop of water until a person or supply has almost nothing left.

Common phrases

  • épuiser quelqu'un

    exhaust someone

  • épuiser les ressources

    use up the resources

  • épuiser la patience

    exhaust someone's patience

Similar words

fatiguer: Wear someone out through physical activity or exertion.
lasser: Make someone tired of something through repetition or monotony.
crever: In informal speech, exhaust someone to the point of being unable to move.
consommer: Consume something until little or none remains.

Definition in French

Rendre quelqu'un très fatigué, ou utiliser complètement une réserve jusqu'à ne plus rien laisser.

Word origin

French épuiser combines ex- with puiser, "to draw from a source," creating the image of drawing something out completely.

Usage tips

  • In "Cette journée m'épuise," m' is a direct object, so the sentence means that the day exhausts me without a preposition before the person.

Other meanings

  • use upverb
  • depleteverb

Opposites

  • revigorerinvigorateverb
  • reposergive someone a restverb

Related words

Word lists with this word