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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Tear Up: Two Meanings, Two Pronunciations (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：rip up (Tear up)

Tear up 🔊

/tɛər ʌp/ (ripping) or /tɪər ʌp/ (crying)

phr.v.

To rip or pull something, like paper or cloth, into pieces.

Hands ripping a sheet of paper into pieces on wooden desk

rip up 🔊

➕

/rɪp ʌp/

phr.v.

To physically tear something, such as paper or cloth, into pieces by pulling.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Basic

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English 'teran' (rip) and 'tear' (teardrop) + particle 'up'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of tearing paper in anger (rip) vs. tearing up with joy (cry).

📖 Example

After reading the disappointing news, she couldn't help but tear up the letter and throw it away. 🔊 After reading the disappointing news, she couldn't help but tear up the letter and throw it away.

🔗 Collocations

tear up a letter – rip a letter into pieces

tear up paper – shred paper

tear up a contract – destroy a contract by ripping

🔄 Synonyms

rip (v.) – To tear something quickly and forcefully.

shred (v.) – To tear or cut into thin pieces.

tear apart (phr.v.) – To separate something into pieces by pulling.

🚫 Antonyms

mend (v.) – To repair something that is torn.

repair (v.) – To fix or restore something damaged.

🌱 Derivatives

tear (v.) – To pull apart by force.

tearing (adj.) – Causing or characterized by tearing.

tearable (adj.) – Capable of being torn.

📖 Cultural Story

Both senses date back to Old English: 'teran' for ripping, 'tear' for teardrops. In modern English, 'tear up' is common in emotional contexts like movie reviews or breakups.

Meaning 2：well up (Tear up)

Tear up 🔊

/tɛər ʌp/ (ripping) or /tɪər ʌp/ (crying)

phr.v.

To get tears in your eyes, to be about to cry, often because of strong emotions.

Close-up of eyes glistening with tears and faint smile

well up 🔊

➕

/wɛl ʌp/

phr.v.

To have tears form in one's eyes, often due to strong emotion such as joy, sadness, or nostalgia.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Watching the heartwarming reunion of the family in the movie made many audience members tear up. 🔊 Watching the heartwarming reunion of the family in the movie made many audience members tear up.

🔗 Collocations

tear up at a movie – become emotional while watching a film

tear up from joy – cry with happiness

tear up on hearing news – get emotional upon receiving information

🔄 Synonyms

well up (phr.v.) – To start producing tears in the eyes.

get misty-eyed (phr.) – To have eyes become tearful, usually from emotion.

cry (v.) – To shed tears as an expression of emotion.

🚫 Antonyms

stay dry-eyed (phr.) – To not cry or show emotion.

hold back tears (phr.) – To suppress the urge to cry.

🌱 Derivatives

tearful (adj.) – Full of tears or weeping.

teardrop (n.) – A single tear that falls from the eye.