adjective
Uncommon
ripping
RIH-pihng
Ripping (adjective) means (dated, chiefly British) Excellent or wonderful. Example: “We had a ripping good time at the party.”
adjective
1
(dated, chiefly British) Excellent or wonderful.
"We had a ripping good time at the party."
noun
1
The act of tearing something, or of copying digital media from a disc.
"CD ripping was a common way to build a music library in the 2000s."
How to use ripping
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs an adjective, an old-fashioned way of saying "great"; as a noun, the act of tearing or of digitally copying media.
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Word forms
- Plural
- rippings
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We had a _____ good time at the party.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ripping
tipping
dipping
nipping
sipping
yipping
shipping
whipping
slipping
dripping
clipping
gripping
flipping
See all rhymes for ripping →
Frequently asked questions
What does “ripping” mean?
The word “ripping” means (dated, chiefly British) Excellent or wonderful. In plain terms, as an adjective, an old-fashioned way of saying "great"; as a noun, the act of tearing or of digitally copying media.
How do you pronounce “ripping”?
“Ripping” is pronounced RIH-pihng (/ˈɹɪpɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ripping” in a sentence?
Here is “ripping” used in a sentence: “We had a ripping good time at the party.”
What part of speech is “ripping”?
Depending on how it is used, “ripping” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “ripping” a common word?
“Ripping” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ripping” have?
“Ripping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (dated, chiefly British) Excellent or wonderful.
Is "ripping" still used to mean "excellent" in modern English?
This sense of "ripping" is dated and chiefly British, and it sounds old-fashioned or deliberately quaint to most modern speakers. It is rarely used in everyday conversation today outside of nostalgic or humorous contexts.
What is the difference between "ripping" a piece of paper and "ripping" a CD?
Both use the underlying idea of tearing something apart or away, but "ripping" paper describes physically tearing material, while "ripping" a CD or DVD refers to copying digital media content from the disc onto a computer or device.
Is it legal to rip a CD or DVD you own?
Laws on ripping personal copies of discs vary by country and depend on factors like copyright protections and intended use. Users should check their local copyright laws before ripping copyrighted media, even discs they legally purchased.
