Meaning & use
tear up paper
Last updated
UK/ˌteər ʌp ˈpeɪpə/
US/ˌter ʌp ˈpeɪpər/
Meaning
phrasetransitive
To rip paper into small pieces, often to destroy or get rid of it.
Grammar: Takes an object: tear up paper. The past tense is 'tore up'.
Patterns
- tear up paper
- tear paper up
- tear something up
He tore up the letter and threw it away.
Don't tear up that paper — I need it.
She tore up the old bills and put them in the bin.
Word forms
| third person singular | tears up paper |
|---|---|
| past tense | tore up paper |
| past participle | torn up paper |
| -ing form | tearing up paper |
Common combinations
- tear up a letter
- He tore up the letter in anger.
- tear up a document
- She tore up the document after reading it.
- tear up paper
- The children tore up paper to make confetti.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rip up
- Rip up is very similar but often suggests a rougher or more violent action.
- shred
- Shred means to cut or tear into very small strips, often using a machine; tear up is more general.
Word family
- tear verb
- To pull something apart or into pieces.
Commonly confused: tear up paper or tear (noun)?
tear up paper vs tear (noun)
A tear can be a drop of water from your eye, pronounced /tɪər/. In 'tear up paper', tear means to rip, pronounced /teər/.
Practice
He was so angry that he ______ up the paper.
Choose one answer.
The past tense of 'tear' is 'tore'. 'Teared' is not used for ripping, 'torn' is the past participle, and 'tearing' is the -ing form.
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