tore
3 synonyms for tore, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense of "tear" — pulled something apart or ripped it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Etymology
Came into English via Middle English tor, tore, toor, which developed from the Old Norse prefix tor- (“hard, difficult, wrong, bad”). That in turn goes back to Proto-Germanic *tuz- (“hard, difficult, wrong, bad”), from Proto-Indo-European *dus- (“bad, ill, difficult”). It is cognate with Old High German zur- (“mis-”, p...
Full origin of tore →Frequently asked questions
What does “tore” mean?
The word “tore” means past tense of "tear" — pulled something apart or ripped it. In plain terms, the past-tense form of "tear" (to rip).
How do you pronounce “tore”?
“Tore” is pronounced taw (/tɔɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tore” in a sentence?
Here is “tore” used in a sentence: “He tore the letter into pieces without reading it.”
What part of speech is “tore”?
“Tore” is a verb.
Is “tore” a common word?
“Tore” is an uncommon word in modern English.
When should you use "tore" instead of "torn"?
"Tore" is the simple past tense of "tear," used alone to describe a completed action, as in "She tore the letter." "Torn" is the past participle, used with a helping verb such as "has" or "was," as in "The letter was torn."
Is "tore" the correct past tense of "tear"?
Yes, "tore" is the standard past tense form of the irregular verb "tear," meaning to pull something apart or rip it. It does not take an "-ed" ending like regular verbs.
What is a common mistake people make with "tore" and "tore up"?
People sometimes use "tore" and "torn" interchangeably, but only "torn" should follow auxiliary verbs like "have," "has," or "was." Saying "I have tore my shirt" is a common error; the correct form is "I have torn my shirt."
