teardown

1 of 2

noun

tear·​down ˈter-ˌdau̇n 

: the act or process of disassembling

tear down

2 of 2

verb

tore down; torn down; tearing down; tears down

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to decompose or disintegrate

b

: vilify, denigrate

trying to tear down his reputation

2

: to take apart : disassemble

tear down an engine

Synonyms

Verb

• annihilate
• cream
• decimate
• demolish
• desolate
• destroy
• devastate
• do in
• extinguish
• nuke
• pull down
• pulverize
• raze
• rub out
• ruin
• shatter
• smash
• total
• vaporize
• waste
• wrack
• wreck

Examples of teardown in a Sentence

Verb

vandals tore down the wooden fence blocking the entrance to the beach

the new owners apparently bought the house just to tear it down and build a lavish mansion in its place

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And Miami wouldn’t be using the Butler deal as a teardown in this scenario. —Zach Harper, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

But the international project should be a renovation, not a teardown. —Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2017

Verb

The fence angered local ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts, who gathered in the forest in late October to tear down the Free Land Holders’ fence posts and barbed wire. —Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2025

The hotel was torn down in 1929 and the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel opened in 1931 on Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, setting the stage for an iconic hotel brand known worldwide for luxury and its high-end clientele. —Roger Sands, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tear down

verb

: to knock down and break into pieces

tear down an old building