Synonyms

tore

¹ American

[tawr, tohr] / tɔr, toʊr /

verb

simple past tense of tear.
Nonstandard. a past participle of tear.

tore ² American

[tawr, tohr] / tɔr, toʊr /

noun

a torus.

tore ¹ British

/ tɔː /

verb

the past tense of tear 1

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tore ² British

/ tɔː /

noun

architect another name for torus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tore

< French < Latin torus

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.

The Sarries flanker dropped the ball, and Cokanasiga and then Alfie Barbeary tore down the right wing to set up the Bath scrum-half, who raced in by the corner flag.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

He tore down the East Wing to make room for a massive ballroom, and he has submitted plans to build a giant Triumphal Arch.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

So sort of, what tore them apart was Rupert, and I think what brought them together was their mutual animus towards Rupert.

From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026

Just three years ago, the Mets lost closer Edwin Díaz for the entire 2023 campaign after he tore a tendon in his knee celebrating a Puerto Rico victory in the same tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

East to west, a crack tore the mountain apart.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023