tearing
1 Americanadjective
adjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tearing1
before 1000; Old English tæherende (not recorded in ME); see tear 1, -ing 2
Origin of tearing2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Eastern Belgium has become Europe's most urgent fire front, with a vast blaze tearing through the High Fens nature reserve for the past four days.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The researchers speculate that the signal could come from a "stream" of material released by the star's core while the black hole's immense gravity was tearing it apart.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
In a video posted on the party's X account on Thursday, he said: "Across the country, wildfires are tearing through our countryside."
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Earlier in the week, there was the agonizing sight of Jack Draper, the former Top-10 British wunderkind, tearing up mid-match as he continues to be hobbled by arm pain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
The sounds got louder and louder until they bored into Anya’s brain, tearing at her sanity.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
