Word
torn
US/ˈtɔɹn/
UK/tˈɔːn/
Definitions
01ripped or damaged
B1 · Intermediate
adj. damaged by being pulled apart into pieces.
adj. having been pulled apart or into pieces by force; physically ruptured.
“He had to throw away his favourite shirt because it was badly torn.”
“The investigators found several torn documents in the wastebasket, suggesting that someone had tried to destroy the evidence in a hurry.”
02unable to decide
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. feeling like you are pulled in two directions because you cannot choose between two options.
adj. experiencing a conflict between two different choices, loyalties, or courses of action.
“I am torn between going to the party and staying home to rest.”
“She felt deeply torn between her desire to accept the promotion abroad and her responsibility to care for her ageing parents at home.”
Synonyms
03with irregular edges
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
adj. having deep and uneven cuts along the edges, like some leaves.
adj. possessing marginal incisions that are deep and irregular in shape.
“The plant is easy to identify because of its uniquely torn leaves.”
“The specimen is characterised by its torn leaf margins, which distinguish it from other closely related species in the same genus.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “torn” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Tents are torn from the ground like wings from a fly by gale-force winds.” “The rising cost of living has torn Salinas apart.” “It was a happy marriage and she had three children - before her brother's marriage broke down, and she and her husband were torn apart.” Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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