tear

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈter 

tore ˈtȯr  ; torn ˈtȯrn  ; tearing

transitive verb

1

a

: to separate parts of or pull apart by force : rend

b

: to wound by or as if by pulling apart by force : lacerate

tear the skin

2

: to divide or disrupt by the pull of contrary forces

a mind torn with doubts

3

a

: to remove by force : wrench

—often used with off

tear a cover off a box

b

: to remove as if by wrenching

tear your thoughts away from the scene

4

: to make (a hole or opening) by or as if by pulling apart by force

tear a hole in the wall

intransitive verb

1

: to separate on being pulled : rend

this cloth tears easily

2

a

: to move or act with violence, haste, or force

went tearing down the street

b

: to smash or penetrate something with violent force

the bullet tore through his leg

tearable

ˈter-ə-bəl 

adjective

tearer noun

tear

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈter 

1

a

: damage from being torn (see tear entry 1)

especially : a hole or flaw made by tearing

mending a tear in her skirt

b

: the act of tearing something

2

a

: a hurried and violent rush : a tearing pace

the train went by at a tear

b

: spree

got paid and went on a tear

c

: a run of unusual success

the team was on a tear

tear

3 of 4

noun (2)

ˈtir 

1

a

: a drop of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion

b

tears plural : a secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face

2

tears plural : an act of weeping or grieving

broke into tears

3

: a transparent drop of fluid or hardened fluid matter (such as resin)

tearless adjective

tear

4 of 4

verb (2)

ˈtir 

teared; tearing; tears

intransitive verb

: to fill with tears (see tear entry 3) : shed tears

eyes tearing in the November wind

—Saul Bellow

Phrases

tear at

: to cause anguish to : distress

her grief tore at his heart

tear into

: to attack without restraint or caution

tear it

: to cause frustration, defeat, or an end to plans or hopes

that tears it

tear one's hair

: to pull one's hair as an expression of grief, rage, frustration, desperation, or anxiety

also : to feel or display such an emotion

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• rend
• ribbon
• rip
• rive
• shred
• tatter

Noun (1)

• gash
• incision
• laceration
• rent
• rip
• slash
• slit

Choose the Right Synonym for tear

tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly.

tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

Examples of tear in a Sentence

Verb (1)

angrily tore the letter to shreds

tore the book from his hand

she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring

Noun (1)

repaired a tear in the theater curtain just before the start of the show

Noun (2)

And thus he would die—out in the cold world, with no shelter over his homeless head.  … And thus SHE would see him when she looked out upon the glad morning, and oh! would she drop one little tear upon his poor, lifeless form, would she heave one little sigh to see a bright young life so rudely blighted, so untimely cut down? —Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Hurricanes Milton and Helene tore through the southeastern U.S., causing billions in damages, while the Midwest endured an above average outbreak of 1700 tornadoes. —David Tobias, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

In line for a starting role in 2023, Boone tore his ACL during a celebration at the Gators’ first scrimmage in fall camp. —Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024

Noun

Two court officers, both of whom carried guns and handcuffs and wore black bulletproof vests and otherwise stoic expressions, wiped tears from their eyes. —Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Here’s our breakdown of the schools that have reason to celebrate, that experienced mixed results and that should be shedding some tears. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1) and Noun (1)

Middle English teren, from Old English teran; akin to Old High German zeran to destroy, Greek derein to skin, Sanskrit dṛṇāti he bursts, tears

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English tæhher, tēar; akin to Old High German zahar tear, Greek dakry

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tear

• bring a tear to one's eye
• bring a tear to someone's eye
• on a tear
• shed a tear
• tear apart
• tear away
• tear down
• tear gas
• tear oneself loose/free
• tear one's hair out
• tear sheet
• tear (someone) limb from limb
• tear (someone) off a strip
• tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• tear up
• wear and tear

Kids Definition

tear

1 of 4 noun

ˈti(ə)r 

1

: a drop of the salty liquid that keeps the eye and the inner eyelids moist

2

plural : an act of crying or grieving

burst into tears

teary

ˈti(ə)r-ē

adjective

tear

2 of 4 verb

: to fill with tears : shed tears

eyes tearing in the wind

tear

3 of 4 verb

ˈta(ə)r 

ˈte(ə)r

tore ˈtō(ə)r 

ˈtȯ(ə)r

; torn ˈtō(ə)rn 

ˈtȯ(ə)rn

; tearing

1

a

: to separate or pull apart by force

tore a page from the pad

b

: to injure by or as if by tearing : lacerate

tear the skin

2

: to divide or throw into disorder by the pull of contrary forces

a mind torn by doubts

3

: to remove by force

children torn from their parents

4

: to cause by force or violent means

tore a hole in the wall

5

: to move or act with violence, haste, or force

tearing down the street

tearer noun

tear

4 of 4 noun

ˈta(ə)r 

ˈte(ə)r

1

: the act of tearing

2

: damage from being torn

especially : a torn place

mending a tear in my sleeve

Etymology

Noun

Old English tēar "a drop of liquid from the eye"

Verb

Old English teran "to pull apart"

Medical Definition

tear

1 of 4 noun

ˈti(ə)r 

1

a

: a drop of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion

b

tears plural : a secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face

2

: a transparent drop of fluid or hardened fluid matter (as resin)

tear

2 of 4 intransitive verb

: to fill with tears : shed tears

my eyes sting and tear

tear

3 of 4 transitive verb

ˈta(ə)r, ˈte(ə)r 

tore ˈtō(ə)r, ˈtȯ(ə)r  ; torn ˈtō(ə)rn, ˈtȯ(ə)rn  ; tearing

: to wound by or as if by pulling apart by force

tear the skin

tear

4 of 4 noun

: a wound made by tearing a bodily part

a muscle tear