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
The bill was torn up and seemed like it’s lived a life.
—
Natalie Jamieson, Variety, 6 Dec. 2025
Sprinting and contorting to the music, there’s the extraordinary physical performer Yandass, tearing up Theo Clinkard’s fluent choreography.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
The intelligent critters will rip off roof shingles to enter an attic, crawl through vents, give birth to their young in a chimney or tear up a home’s insulation to make their beds.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
Don't expect Schwarzenegger to make these drinks and go tear up a dance floor, though, especially during the holidays.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear up
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Natalie Jamieson, Variety, 6 Dec. 2025
Sprinting and contorting to the music, there’s the extraordinary physical performer Yandass, tearing up Theo Clinkard’s fluent choreography.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
The intelligent critters will rip off roof shingles to enter an attic, crawl through vents, give birth to their young in a chimney or tear up a home’s insulation to make their beds.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
Don't expect Schwarzenegger to make these drinks and go tear up a dance floor, though, especially during the holidays.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
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 13 Dec. 2025.
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