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
This fast-growing tree has a root system that will tear up your yard in no time.
—
Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Was suspended, the show returned, with Kimmel himself thanking fellow talk-show hosts, tearing up in moments during the return.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
She was observed to be tearing up and shaking.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The bill was torn up and seemed like it’s lived a life.
—Natalie Jamieson, Variety, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tear up
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Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Was suspended, the show returned, with Kimmel himself thanking fellow talk-show hosts, tearing up in moments during the return.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
She was observed to be tearing up and shaking.
—Mike Toole, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The bill was torn up and seemed like it’s lived a life.
—Natalie Jamieson, Variety, 6 Dec. 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 1 Jan. 2026.
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