tear
Meaning
To tear something means to pull it apart or cause it to separate into pieces, often using force.
💡 A common mistake is confusing "tear" (to rip) with "tear" (a drop of liquid from the eye).
Example Sentences
Word in Context
On
a
quiet
Sunday
morning
,
Maria
sat
at
the
kitchen
table
and
carefully
wrapped
a
small
present
for
her
friend
.
She
tried
not
to
tear
the
thin
wrapping
paper
,
but
the
tape
stuck
and
a
corner
came
away
too
quickly
.
After
a
short
pause
she
smoothed
the
paper
and
added
another
ribbon
so
the
damage
was
less
noticeable
.
When
her
friend
opened
the
gift
later
,
she
smiled
and
said
the
small
package
looked
lovely
despite
the
little
rip
.
Common Phrases
tear a paper
tear someone's heart
tear down barriers
Synonyms
Related Words
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