tear

1 of 2

noun

ˈtir 

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

2 of 2

verb

ˈtir 

teared; tearing; tears

intransitive verb

: to fill with tears (see tear entry 3) : shed tears

Eyes tearing in the November wind …

—Saul Bellow

Examples of tear in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

The road from our nation’s birth to now has been watered with the blood and tears of men and women willing to die for a country that would one day be the envy of the entire world. —Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Arredondo refused, staring at the man with tears welling up in his eyes. —Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

Verb

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s divorce is reportedly tearing their daughters apart. —Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 6 June 2026

Dull blades, by contrast, tear the grass blades and make a mess of clipping distribution. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English tæhher, tēar; akin to Old High German zahar tear, Greek dakry

and Verb

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tear

• bring a tear to one's eye
• bring a tear to someone's eye
• on a tear
• shed a tear
• tear apart
• tear at
• tear away
• tear down
• tear-gas
• tear into
• tear it
• tear oneself loose/free
• tear one's hair
• tear one's hair out
• tear sheet
• tear (someone) limb from limb
• tear (someone) off a strip
• tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
• tear up
• wear and tear

Rhymes for tear

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

tear

1 of 4 noun

ˈti(ə)r 

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 

ˈte(ə)r

tore ˈtō(ə)r 

ˈtȯ(ə)r

; torn ˈtō(ə)rn 

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 

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

ˈti(ə)r 

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

ˈta(ə)r, ˈte(ə)r 

tore ˈtō(ə)r, ˈtȯ(ə)r  ; torn ˈtō(ə)rn, ˈtȯ(ə)rn  ; tearing

: 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