# rift

/ˈɹɪft/ (US) · /ɹˈɪft/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rift
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a social or political break

noun · CEFR B2

a serious disagreement that stops two people or groups from having a friendly relationship.

For teachers: a serious breach in relations between individuals, groups, or nations, often resulting from a fundamental disagreement.

- The argument over money caused a deep rift between the two brothers.
- The decision to increase membership fees created a significant rift within the party, leading several prominent members to resign in protest.

Usage: Often used with the prepositions 'between' or 'within'.

### 2. a physical crack

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a deep crack or opening in the ground or in a rock.

For teachers: a fissure, crack, or chasm in a rock formation or the earth's crust.

- The earthquake left a massive rift across the main highway.
- Geologists monitored the widening rift in the valley, concerned that the tectonic activity might signal an imminent volcanic event.

### 3. a break in clouds

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a small opening in clouds or mist that lets light shine through.

For teachers: an opening in a mass of clouds, fog, or mist through which light or sky is visible.

- A sudden rift in the clouds allowed a single beam of sunlight to hit the valley.
- Through a narrow rift in the heavy morning mist, the sailors caught their first fleeting glimpse of the jagged coastline.

### 4. to split open

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to burst or split open.

For teachers: to split or cleave; to form a fissure or opening.

- The dry earth began to rift under the heat of the summer sun.
- The ancient stone walls began to rift as the roots of the massive trees pushed through the foundation over many decades.

## Examples

- The argument caused a deep rift between the two brothers.
- The political party struggled to heal the internal rift that formed during the leadership election.
- Geologists monitored the widening rift in the valley, while social scientists studied the growing cultural rift between the urban and rural populations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.