tear

1 of 4

verb (1)

tore ˈtȯr How to pronounce tear (audio) ; torn ˈtȯrn How to pronounce tear (audio) ; 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 adjective
tearer noun

tear

2 of 4

noun (1)

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)

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)

teared; tearing; tears

intransitive verb

: to fill with tears (see tear entry 3) : shed tears
eyes tearing in the November windSaul 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
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

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
Thiago and Nanda, Season 1 Throughout her time in the pods, Nanda was torn between thrill-seeking Thiago and architect Mackdavid. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 While, for Republicans, there’s no fear of declaring unqualified support for Israel, Democrats are torn between the traditional wing of their party and the influential Left, which despises the Jewish state. The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 But the Chinese foreign policy establishment remains torn about whether Beijing should directly and immediately challenge the leadership of the United States for a shot at supremacy. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The Ukrainian soldier swore and tore off his headset. Yurii Shyvala, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Later that night, Omar tore our belongings from the drawers and threw them onto the floor. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Best of all, this book is made from sturdy plastic, so its pages can’t be torn. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 The fires are tearing through the panhandle, which is home to 85% of the state’s cattle industry. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 Team members should be building each other up, not tearing each other down. Brandi Watterson, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
The singer died after being in a coma following emergency surgery for an arterial tear. Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Still, she was moved to tears by Clay's apology on Wednesday. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 As the crowd came to its feet for a standing ovation, Patel turned away from the audience, wiping tears from his eyes with his sleeve. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 There were hugs, there were tears, there were epic game-winners that’ll live on in Colorado high school basketball lore. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 To this day, the story still brings a tear to Stefano Raimonda's eye. Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2024 Shoulder discomfort ahead of the 2021 season has since led two surgeries, first in 2021 to repair a capsular tear in his right shoulder and clean out the backside of the joint and then another in 2022 for right shoulder arthroscopic bursectomy. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024 Another person wiped away the tears of a friend, making sure her makeup didn’t smudge. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Senate Bill 52, from Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, banning dedicated bus lanes in Indianapolis for one year, looked all but teed up to pass the House after a chamber's committee this week voted to move it forward, despite tears from Rep. Blake Johnson, D-Indianapolis. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tear was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tear

Cite this Entry

“Tear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tear

1 of 4 noun
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 How to pronounce tear (audio)
ˈte(ə)r
tore ˈtō(ə)r How to pronounce tear (audio)
ˈtȯ(ə)r
; torn ˈtō(ə)rn How to pronounce tear (audio)
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 How to pronounce tear (audio)
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
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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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