tearing

¹

[ teer-ing ]

adjective

1. shedding tears. tear.

tearing

²

[ tair-ing ]

adjective

1. violent or hasty:

   with tearing speed.

tearing

/ ˈtɛərɪŋ /

adjective

1. violent or furious (esp in the phrase tearing hurry or rush )

Other Words From

• tearing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tearing¹

before 1000; Old English tæherende (not recorded in ME); tear ¹, -ing ²

Origin of tearing²

First recorded in 1600–10; tear ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Southampton boss Russell Martin was tearing his hair out about their disallowed goal against Brighton on Friday.

From BBC

There was no mistaking that against the Rams, with Barkley tearing off a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter and a 72-yard touchdown in the fourth.

From Los Angeles Times

"The parties are tearing down their own houses, they are massacring their own people," he said.

From BBC

Clare has acknowledged that some service providers may face difficult budget decisions but said that any assertion the policy is "somehow tearing down international education is absolutely and fundamentally wrong".

From BBC

Maccabi fans were themselves involved in vandalism, tearing down a Palestinian flag, attacking a taxi and chanting anti-Arab slogans, according to city authorities.

From BBC