rend

verb \ ˈrend \

Definition of rend

rent play \ˈrent\ also rended play \ˈren-dəd\; rending

transitive verb

1 : to remove from place by violence : wrest

2 : to split or tear apart or in pieces by violence

3 : to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair

4 a : to lacerate mentally or emotionally

b : to pierce with sound

c : to divide (something, such as a nation) into contesting factions

intransitive verb

1 : to perform an act of tearing or splitting

2 : to become torn or split

See rend defined for English-language learners

See rend defined for kids

Examples of rend in a Sentence

They rent the cloth to shreds.
mourners rending their clothes in grief

Recent Examples of rend from the Web

That's what Jonah craves after a particularly painful moment that Snyder delivers with rending clarity.

— melinda morris, NOLA.com, "'RuPaul's Drag Race' contestants coming to Metairie," 10 July 2017
Such a move would rend a global deal that has been hailed as historic, throwing into question the fate of global climate policy and, diplomats say, the credibility of the United States.

— coral davenport, New York Times, "Top Trump Advisers Are Split on Paris Agreement on Climate Change," 2 Mar. 2017
Although there are scenes of shocking cruelty, mostly involving Law’s character, Ritchie always pulls his camera away at the bloodiest moments, rending the PG-13 barbarity more theoretical.

— michael o'sullivan, The Denver Post, "“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” hits the reset button on the Arthurian legend," 12 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rend

Middle English, from Old English rendan; akin to Old Frisian renda to tear and perhaps to Sanskrit randhra hole

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

rend Synonyms

Synonyms

rip, rive, shred, tatter, tear;

Related Words

break, cleave, rupture, split;

cut, gash, incise, lacerate, slash;

butcher, dismember, dissect, hack, mangle;

Synonym Discussion of rend

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

REND Defined for English Language Learners

rend

verb

Definition of rend for English Language Learners

: to tear (something) into pieces with force or violence

REND Defined for Kids

rend

verb \ ˈrend \

Definition of rend for Students

rent \ˈrent\; rending

: to tear apart by force

Learn More about rend

See words that rhyme with rend Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rend Spanish Central: Translation of rend Nglish: Translation of rend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rend for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up rend? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

rend

Definition of rend

Examples of rend in a Sentence

Recent Examples of rend from the Web

Origin and Etymology of rend

rend Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of rend

REND Defined for English Language Learners

rend

Definition of rend for English Language Learners

REND Defined for Kids

rend

Definition of rend for Students

Learn More about rend

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

Trending: HRC: Media Opened Door to 'Charlatans'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes