tear up
verb
tore up; torn up; tearing up; tears up
1
: to damage, remove, or effect an opening in
tore up the street to lay a new water main
2
: to perform or compete with great success on, in, or against
couples tearing up the dance floor
a batter who's tearing up the league
Examples of tear up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At Trump’s last speech to Congress, the 2020 State of the Union address, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tore up the prepared text behind him.
—
W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Mar. 2025
In the clip, the 43-year-old is tearing up in her hospital bed while getting the final staple removed.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
The comedian himself seemed to tear up when mentioning two of his friends and former castmates, Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald, both of whom have died.
—Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2025
Nolen is a prototypical three-technique disrupter who tore up the SEC last year and is noted for his relentless play style.
—Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Mar. 2025
In the clip, the 43-year-old is tearing up in her hospital bed while getting the final staple removed.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
The comedian himself seemed to tear up when mentioning two of his friends and former castmates, Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald, both of whom have died.
—Esther Zuckerman, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2025
Nolen is a prototypical three-technique disrupter who tore up the SEC last year and is noted for his relentless play style.
—Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear up
Cite this Entry
“Tear up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear%20up. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share