tear up
verb
tore up; torn up; tearing up; tears up
1
: to damage, remove, or effect an opening in
tore up the street to lay a new water main
2
: to perform or compete with great success on, in, or against
couples tearing up the dance floor
a batter who's tearing up the league
Examples of tear up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2020, after Trump concluded his joint address, Pelosi tore up her copy of the speech, following the president’s refusal to shake her hand.
—
Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
These are the first federal funds directed to the landslide area since the city declared a local emergency in October 2023, when land movement began reaching unprecedented levels, tearing up roads, splitting homes and upending utilities.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The store, which is in the midst of a three-year refurbishment, has torn up its fourth floor and dedicated the entire space to wellness with a 360-degree offer that also includes clothing and accessories.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
With the school tearing up the current turf at Albertsons Stadium in June, why not turn the old surface into one of the more unusual collectible pieces in college football?
—Larry Holder, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tear up
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Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 10 May 2026
These are the first federal funds directed to the landslide area since the city declared a local emergency in October 2023, when land movement began reaching unprecedented levels, tearing up roads, splitting homes and upending utilities.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The store, which is in the midst of a three-year refurbishment, has torn up its fourth floor and dedicated the entire space to wellness with a 360-degree offer that also includes clothing and accessories.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
With the school tearing up the current turf at Albertsons Stadium in June, why not turn the old surface into one of the more unusual collectible pieces in college football?
—Larry Holder, New York Times, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tear up
Cite this Entry
“Tear up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear%20up. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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