English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
verb Uncommon

tore

taw
Quiz me More like this

Tore (verb) means past tense of "tear" — pulled something apart or ripped it. Example: “He tore the letter into pieces without reading it.”

verb
1
Past tense of "tear" — pulled something apart or ripped it.
"He tore the letter into pieces without reading it."
"She tore her jeans climbing over the fence."
"The wind tore the umbrella out of my hand and broke it."

How to use tore

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe past-tense form of "tear" (to rip).

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "torn", the past participle used with "has/have/had" — you say "I tore it" but "I have torn it."

Easily confused with
torn →
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tore.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Comparative
more tore
Superlative
most tore
Test yourself on “tore” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ the letter into pieces without reading it.

Etymology

Came into English via Middle English tor, tore, toor, which developed from the Old Norse prefix tor- (“hard, difficult, wrong, bad”). That in turn goes back to Proto-Germanic *tuz- (“hard, difficult, wrong, bad”), from Proto-Indo-European *dus- (“bad, ill, difficult”). It is cognate with Old High German zur- (“mis-”, prefix), Gothic ???- (tuz-, “hard, difficult”, prefix), and Ancient Greek δυσ- (dus-, “bad, ill, difficult”, prefix). See also dys-.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
ripped shredded rent

Related words

let built drunk split pulled rent letting hire

Rhymes for tore

ore bore yore lore more core fore sore gore pore amore adore
See all rhymes for tore →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tore” mean?
The word “tore” means past tense of "tear" — pulled something apart or ripped it. In plain terms, the past-tense form of "tear" (to rip).
How do you pronounce “tore”?
“Tore” is pronounced taw (/tɔɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tore” in a sentence?
Here is “tore” used in a sentence: “He tore the letter into pieces without reading it.”
What part of speech is “tore”?
“Tore” is a verb.
Is “tore” a common word?
“Tore” is an uncommon word in modern English.
When should you use "tore" instead of "torn"?
"Tore" is the simple past tense of "tear," used alone to describe a completed action, as in "She tore the letter." "Torn" is the past participle, used with a helping verb such as "has" or "was," as in "The letter was torn."
Is "tore" the correct past tense of "tear"?
Yes, "tore" is the standard past tense form of the irregular verb "tear," meaning to pull something apart or rip it. It does not take an "-ed" ending like regular verbs.
What is a common mistake people make with "tore" and "tore up"?
People sometimes use "tore" and "torn" interchangeably, but only "torn" should follow auxiliary verbs like "have," "has," or "was." Saying "I have tore my shirt" is a common error; the correct form is "I have torn my shirt."

People also searched

let built drunk split pulled rent letting hire