tear
Tear (verb) means to pull something apart or make a hole in it by force. Example: “He tore the wrapping paper off in seconds.”
How to use tear
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo rip something apart, to move very fast, or (as a different word entirely) a drop of liquid from crying.
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.
Word forms
tore past tense, torn past tense, teared past tense, tears plural, tears plural, tears singular, tears singular
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.
Related words
Rhymes for tear
See all rhymes for tear →Frequently asked questions
What does “tear” mean?
The word “tear” means to pull something apart or make a hole in it by force. In plain terms, to rip something apart, to move very fast, or (as a different word entirely) a drop of liquid from crying.
How do you pronounce “tear”?
“Tear” is pronounced teh-uh (/tɛɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tear” in a sentence?
Here is “tear” used in a sentence: “Careful, you'll tear the fabric if you pull that hard.”
What part of speech is “tear”?
Depending on how it is used, “tear” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “tear” come from?
The word “tear” comes from Old English.
Is “tear” a common word?
“Tear” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “tear” have?
“Tear” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pull something apart or make a hole in it by force.
What is the past tense of "tear"?
"Tear" is an irregular verb. Its past tense is "tore" and its past participle is "torn," as in "he tore the paper" and "the paper was torn."
What is the difference between "tear" and "rip"?
Both mean to pull something apart by force, and they are often interchangeable. "Tear" can suggest a rougher or more jagged separation, while "rip" tends to imply a quicker, more violent pull, though in everyday use "tear a page" and "rip a page" mean much the same thing.
How can "tear" mean to move quickly?
Besides meaning to pull apart, "tear" can describe moving somewhere very fast or with great energy, as in "she tore down the road" or "they tore off after the bus." This sense stresses speed and force rather than damage.
What are common phrases using "tear"?
Idioms include "tear apart" (to divide or destroy), "tear up" (to rip into pieces), and "tear off" (to remove quickly or to leave in a hurry). These build on the verb's core senses of ripping and rushing.
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