verb

tear

teh-uh

verb

To pull something apart or make a hole in it by force.

"He tore the wrapping paper off in seconds."

"Careful, you'll tear the fabric if you pull that hard."

To move somewhere very quickly or with great energy.

"The kids came tearing down the stairs on Christmas morning."

noun

A hole or split made by tearing.

"There's a small tear in the sleeve of this jacket."

A drop of clear liquid that falls from the eye, especially when crying.

"A single tear rolled down her cheek as she read the letter."

How to Use Tear

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo rip something apart, to move very fast, or (as a different word entirely) a drop of liquid from crying.

Common mistake

Tear (rip, rhymes with "hair") and tear (teardrop, rhymes with "here") are spelled identically but pronounced differently and unrelated in origin — context tells you which one is meant.

Common pairings

tear apart tear up burst into tears wipe away a tear

Word Forms

tore past tense, torn past tense, teared past tense, tears plural, tears plural, tears singular, tears singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tear” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Careful, you'll _____ the fabric if you pull that hard.

Etymology

The verb comes from Old English teran, "to tear or rip," from an ancient root meaning to tear apart; the noun for a teardrop is actually a separate, unrelated word from Old English tear meaning a drop from the eye — the two just happen to be spelled alike.

Rhymes for tear

ear year dear hear bear wear near fear pear gear rear sear

See all rhymes for tear →