torn: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral (used across formal and informal contexts)
Quick answer
What does “torn” mean?
The past participle of 'tear', meaning pulled apart or ripped, resulting in a state of damage or division.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past participle of 'tear', meaning pulled apart or ripped, resulting in a state of damage or division.
Also describes a state of internal conflict or being unable to choose between two opposing options.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Potential minor difference: In metaphorical use, 'torn' might be slightly more frequent in American media/counseling discourse.
Connotations
Identical connotations of damage, distress, or indecision in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “torn” in a Sentence
BE torn between NP and NPBE torn apart by NPNP be torn (by NP)HAVE NP tornVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “torn” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She had torn her ticket before boarding the train.
- The scandal has torn the community apart.
American English
- He'd torn the check before depositing it.
- The debate is tearing the committee apart.
adjective
British English
- He felt torn about accepting the job in London.
- A torn £5 note won't be accepted by the vending machine.
American English
- She's torn between Yale and Stanford.
- I found a torn dollar bill in my wallet.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board was torn over the merger proposal. (metaphorical)
Academic
The nation was torn by civil war. (historical/sociological)
Everyday
My jeans are torn at the knee. (literal)
Technical
The patient has a torn meniscus. (medical)
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “torn”
- Using 'torn' for something worn out from use (incorrect: 'My shoes are torn' if just old). Confusing 'torn' (pp of tear) with 'tore' (simple past).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It's used for any material that can rip (paper, skin, muscle, ligaments) and very commonly for metaphorical division (feelings, loyalties, groups).
'Tore' is the simple past tense ('I tore the paper yesterday'). 'Torn' is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs ('I have torn the paper', 'The paper is torn').
Extremely rarely. Its core meaning is damage or conflict. A possible positive: 'torn from today's headlines' suggests relevance, but still implies a forceful removal.
In British English, it's a long open /ɔː/ as in 'law'. In American English, it's the same vowel but often with a following 'r' sound /ɔːr/, making it rhyme with 'born'.
The past participle of 'tear', meaning pulled apart or ripped, resulting in a state of damage or division.
Torn is usually neutral (used across formal and informal contexts) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “torn between two lovers”
- “a house torn apart by scandal”
- “torn from the headlines”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TORNado ripping a piece of paper - it leaves it TORN.
Conceptual Metaphor
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONFLICT IS PHYSICAL TEARING (e.g., 'torn by guilt').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'torn' metaphorically?