rip
rihp
Rip (verb) means to tear something apart quickly and forcefully. Example: “Be careful not to rip the page when you turn it.”
verb
1
To tear something apart quickly and forcefully.
"Be careful not to rip the page when you turn it."
"He ripped the wrapping paper off the gift."
"Her jeans ripped at the knee."
2
(informal) To copy digital audio or video from a disc onto a computer.
"I spent the weekend ripping my old CDs so I could listen on the train."
"Can you rip this DVD for me before we travel?"
"He ripped the CD to add the songs to his phone."
noun
1
A torn place in fabric or material.
"The tent had a rip in the roof, so the rain came in."
"She sewed up the rip in the curtain."
"There's a rip in the sleeve of your jacket."
How to use rip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tear something forcefully, or a tear itself.
Common mistake
"Rest in peace" is often abbreviated "RIP," which is unrelated to this word despite the same letters.
Common pairings
rip apart
rip off
rip to shreds
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Word forms
- Plural
- rips
- Third person singular
- rips
- Past tense
- ripped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Be careful not to _____ the page when you turn it.
Etymology
From Middle English rippen, "to pluck," related to Old English words for tearing or plundering.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for rip
See all rhymes for rip →Frequently asked questions
What does “rip” mean?
The word “rip” means to tear something apart quickly and forcefully. In plain terms, to tear something forcefully, or a tear itself.
How do you pronounce “rip”?
“Rip” is pronounced rihp (/ɹɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “rip” in a sentence?
Here is “rip” used in a sentence: “He ripped the wrapping paper off the gift.”
What is another word for “rip”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rip” include tear.
What part of speech is “rip”?
Depending on how it is used, “rip” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “rip” come from?
The word “rip” comes from Old English. From Middle English rippen, "to pluck," related to Old English words for tearing or plundering.
Is “rip” a common word?
“Rip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “rip” have?
“Rip” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tear something apart quickly and forcefully.
What is the difference between "rip" and "tear"?
Both mean to pull something apart, but "rip" suggests a quicker, rougher, more forceful action, while "tear" is the more general term and can be gentle or accidental. You might tear a page neatly, but you rip it out in a hurry.
What is the difference between "rip" and "cut"?
"Rip" means to pull material apart by force, leaving a rough, uneven edge, whereas "cut" uses a sharp tool such as scissors or a knife to make a clean, controlled line. A ripped seam looks ragged, while a cut one is straight.
What do phrases like "rip off" and "rip up" mean?
In "rip up," rip keeps its literal sense of tearing something to pieces, as in "rip up the letter." "Rip off" is informal and means to cheat or overcharge someone, so a "rip-off" is something priced unfairly.
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