To demolish a structure, or to destroy someone's confidence, reputation, or beliefs.
To knock a building down, or to say mean things that destroy someone's confidence.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To demolish or destroy a building or structure.
"The council voted to tear down the old factory and build a park in its place."
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
— Ronald Reagan, speech at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, 1987
To destroy someone's confidence, reputation, or morale through criticism or hostile behaviour.
"A good coach builds players up; a bad one tears them down."
To dismantle or take apart a machine or system for inspection or repair.
"The mechanics tore the engine down completely to find the source of the fault."
To pull or rip a structure downward until it falls.
To knock a building down, or to say mean things that destroy someone's confidence.
Common in American English for demolishing buildings. Also widely used figuratively to mean destroying someone's self-esteem, a system, or a set of beliefs. Opposite of 'build up'.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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