Phrase guide

tear up

verb · 9 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.

  • General-American: /ˈtɛəɹ ˈʌp/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtɛəɹ ˈʌp/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈtɪɹ ˈʌp/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtɪəɹ ˈʌp/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To tear into pieces.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The student tore up his test after he found out his mark of 20%.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cancel or annul, or to cause the cancellation or annulment of (e.g. an agreement or contract).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • I finally persuaded the landlord to tear up the lease and move to a month-by-month rental.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To damage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • The lacrosse practice really tore up the field.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To succeed dramatically in (an area of endeavor) or against.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • In his first year, his hitting tore up the league's opposing pitchers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To wrench out of the ground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • We tore up the weeds from the allotment.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To have intense penetrative sex with.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive, vulgar

Examples

  • Chad tore up Stacy after that party.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To brutally assault.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

Examples

  • Jason tore up Todd after finding out that he was having sex with his sister.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To start shedding tears.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • After seeing Johnny tear up at that cheesy movie, I knew he was a loser.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

tear into shreds

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shred, rip up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tear, rupture, snap, bust

Narrower terms: tease

History

Etymology

See: tear (“to rip, shred”).

See: tear (“liquid that falls from the eyes”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: разкъсвам (razkǎsvam) — To tear into pieces.
  • Greek: καταξεσκίζω (kataxeskízo) — To tear into pieces.
  • Thai: ฉีกเป็นชิ้นๆ — To tear into pieces.
  • Bulgarian: изскубвам (izskubvam) — To wrench out of the ground.