adj
Uncommon
tearing
TEH-uh-rihng
Tearing (adj) means Informal: very great or impressive in size or effect. Example: “He's in a tearing hurry to catch the last train.”
adj
1
Informal: very great or impressive in size or effect.
"He's in a tearing hurry to catch the last train."
"The bus came round the corner at a tearing pace."
"She drove off at a tearing speed, late for work."
noun
1
The act of ripping something, or a rip itself.
"The tearing of the old photograph upset her more than she expected."
2
In video and computer graphics, a visual glitch where a displayed image shows parts of two different frames at once.
"Turning on V-sync fixed the screen tearing during fast-paced games."
"Without a matching refresh rate, you will often notice tearing across the middle of the picture."
"The video looked fine until a sudden camera pan caused obvious tearing along the top edge."
How to use tearing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRipping something, moving very fast, or (in gaming/graphics) a glitch where the screen shows mismatched frame parts.
Common pairings
screen tearing
a tearing hurry
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Word forms
- Plural
- tearings
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He's in a _____ hurry to catch the last train.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for tearing
See all rhymes for tearing →Frequently asked questions
What does “tearing” mean?
The word “tearing” means informal: very great or impressive in size or effect. In plain terms, ripping something, moving very fast, or (in gaming/graphics) a glitch where the screen shows mismatched frame parts.
How do you pronounce “tearing”?
“Tearing” is pronounced TEH-uh-rihng (/ˈtɛɹ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tearing” in a sentence?
Here is “tearing” used in a sentence: “He's in a tearing hurry to catch the last train.”
What part of speech is “tearing”?
Depending on how it is used, “tearing” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “tearing” a common word?
“Tearing” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tearing” have?
“Tearing” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal: very great or impressive in size or effect.
What does tearing mean in video games or graphics?
In video and computer graphics, tearing is a visual glitch where a displayed image shows parts of two different frames at once, creating a visible horizontal split. It usually happens when the frame rate and the screen's refresh rate are not properly synchronized.
What is the difference between tearing as a noun and tearing as an adjective?
As a noun, tearing refers to the act of ripping something or the rip itself, such as the tearing of paper. As an informal adjective, tearing means very great or impressive in size or effect, as in 'a tearing pace.'
Is 'tearing' meaning impressive formal or informal?
The sense of tearing meaning very great or impressive is informal, and is typically used in casual descriptions such as 'a tearing hurry' rather than in formal writing.
