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verb A2 Elementary Common

tear

teh-uh
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Tear (verb) means to pull something apart or make a hole in it by force. Example: “Don't tear the page out of the library book.”

verb
1
To pull something apart or make a hole in it by force.
"Don't tear the page out of the library book."
"He tore the wrapping paper off in seconds."
"Careful, you'll tear the fabric if you pull that hard."
2
To move somewhere very quickly or with great energy.
"The kids came tearing down the stairs on Christmas morning."
"The puppy tears around the garden every morning until it is worn out."
noun
1
A hole or split made by tearing.
"There's a small tear in the sleeve of this jacket."
"Mum sewed up the tear in my coat before the trip."
"There was a long tear in the poster where someone had pulled it down."
2
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."
"The baby cried until a tear dripped off her chin."
"He wiped a tear from his eye as the choir began to sing."

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.

Easily confused with
tier →
Common pairings
tear apart tear up burst into tears wipe away a tear
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Word forms

Plural
tears
Third person singular
tears
Past tense
tore, torn, teared
Test yourself on “tear” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Don't _____ the page out of the library book.

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.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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rip rend shred rupture split race buck deplumate charge displume deplume bust

Antonyms

mend

Related words

point level price break tax bill race charge

Rhymes for tear

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