tear down

British  

/ tɛə /

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to destroy or demolish

   to tear a wall down

   to tear down an argument

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tear down Idioms  

1. Demolish, take apart, as in They tore down the old tenements , or He loved to tear down old engines . [Early 1600s]

2. Vilify or discredit, as in He's always tearing down someone or other . [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Design fans were upset by the couple’s decision to tear down the original structure, known as the Zimmerman House, which dated to the 1950s and was considered a design gem.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

He had no right to unilaterally tear down part of the White House.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

They own the property next door and hoped to tear down Monroe’s place to expand their estate.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

"I'm not ripping it down, I'll be using the steel," Trump, a former construction magnate, told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he planned to tear down the building.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

They’d tear down the roof of the Neely house and pound at the beam until it splintered in over the hearth.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff