torn
Americanverb
verb
-
the past participle of tear 1
-
slang an unexpected event or circumstance has upset one's plans
adjective
-
split or cut
-
divided or undecided, as in preference
he was torn between staying and leaving
Other Word Forms
Explanation
Torn things have been pulled apart or ripped. Things can be literally torn, like a torn piece of paper, or figuratively torn — like your torn heart when you have to take sides in a family feud. You can serve a salad full of torn lettuce leaves, or mend a stuffed animal with a torn ear. In both cases, something has been divided by force, or pulled apart. It's also possible to be emotionally torn, or conflicted between two choices, options, or people: "I'm torn between going to the party or staying home and reading my library book." Either way, torn things are difficult (and sometimes impossible) to repair.
Vocabulary lists containing torn
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.
Morningside High will eventually be torn down for a residential development.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026
A 12-foot-wide hole was torn in the 8-inch-thick concrete ceiling.
From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026
"Many homes have suffered severe damage, with countless roofs completely torn off... Across the island, there is no electricity, no running water, and no mobile network service," said Rota resident Masum Dhali, 24.
From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026
Froome's wife later said doctors discovered a pericardial rupture - an injury where the sac that surrounds the heart is torn - during surgery and were able to repair it.
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026
It’s creased and torn, as though it had been crumpled up into a ball before being opened up again and neatly folded.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
