1 A2 neutral
To rip a document or object into pieces, usually to destroy or discard it.
"In a fury, she tore up his letter and threw the pieces in the bin."
separable
tear up
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To destroy a document or object by ripping it into pieces, or to become tearful and emotional.
In plain English
To rip something into lots of little pieces, or to start crying or feel like you want to cry.
What does "tear up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To become visibly emotional; to have tears come to your eyes.
"He tore up when he heard the tribute his colleagues had written about him."
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To cancel or disregard an agreement or set of rules.
"The new government threatened to tear up the international climate agreement."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To rip something upward or into pieces from below.
Actually means
To rip something into lots of little pieces, or to start crying or feel like you want to cry.
Usage tip
'Tear up' for becoming emotional is intransitive and common in both British and American English. The physical sense is universal. Also used informally to mean performing brilliantly (overlapping with 'tear it up').
Words that pair with "tear up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
letter contract paper agreement cheque rulebook
How to conjugate "tear up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tear up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tears up
he/she/it
Past simple
tore up
yesterday
Past participle
torn up
have + pp
-ing form
tearing up
continuous
Hear "tear up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "tear up"
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