Phrase guide

tear off

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /tɛəɹ ɒf/
  • US: /teɹ ɑf/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Alternative form of tear-off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To rip away from; to pull a piece from forcibly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Do not tear off the price tag if you want to return that shirt.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To become detached by tearing or ripping.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To leave or depart rapidly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The fugitive tore off down the alley.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To remove all of a roof (shingles, etc.) down to the wood deck.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: business, construction, manufacturing, roofing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

rip off violently and forcefully

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The passing bus tore off her side mirror

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tear away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

43 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: qoparmaq — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Esperanto: elŝiri — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • French: arracher — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Galician: esgallar — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Galician: esguizar — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Galician: esgazar — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • German: abreißen — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • German: abrupfe — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Latin: abscindō — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Polish: zdzierać — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Polish: zedrzeć — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Polish: oddzierać — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Polish: odedrzeć — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Polish: odrywać — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Polish: oderwać — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Portuguese: arrancar — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Quechua: t'ipiy — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Romanian: rupe — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Serbo-Croatian: kȉdati — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Swedish: slita loss — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Ukrainian: відрива́ти (vidryváty) — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Ukrainian: відірва́ти (vidirváty) — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Ukrainian: віддира́ти (viddyráty) — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Ukrainian: відде́рти (viddérty) — (''transitive'') to rip away from
  • Belarusian: адрыва́цца (adryvácca) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Belarusian: адарва́цца (adarvácca) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • French: s'arracher — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • German: abreißen — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Polish: zdzierać się — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Polish: zedrzeć się — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Polish: oddzierać się — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Polish: odedrzeć się — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Polish: odrywać się — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Polish: oderwać się — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Russian: оторва́ться (otorvátʹsja) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Russian: отрыва́ться (otryvátʹsja) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Ukrainian: відрива́тися (vidryvátysja) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Ukrainian: відірва́тися (vidirvátysja) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Ukrainian: віддира́тися (viddyrátysja) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Ukrainian: відде́ртися (viddértysja) — (intransitive) to become detached by tearing or ripping
  • Dutch: wegscheuren — (intransitive) to leave or depart rapidly
  • Polish: oddalać się szybko — (intransitive) to leave or depart rapidly
  • Polish: oddalić się szybko — (intransitive) to leave or depart rapidly