What does "rip" mean?
A tear (in paper, etc.).
Rip
/ɹɪp/ intj, name, noun, verb, slang
intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A tear (in paper, etc.).
- Grammar: rip is listed as intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: tear, abrade, abrasion, active tearing.
- Useful contrasts: no tearing, crosscut, fairness.
- Usage evidence: Oi you, that's too much of a rip off by anyone's count! 6:4 is more than enough. Of course I'm the '6'.
How to use "rip"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rip" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rip" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rip" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rip" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rip" is acting as intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "tear" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rip", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A tear (in paper, etc.).
- 2 A worthless horse; a nag. colloquial, dated, regional
- 3 A handful of unthreshed grain. Scotland
- 4 Repeat-induced point mutation, a process by which both copies of duplicated sequences are mutated. uncountable
"The RIP process can be extremely efficient. A linked duplication of 6 kb of Neurospora DNA, whose elements were separated by 7.5 kb of bacterial and unique Neurospora sequences, never survived a cross unrearranged."
- 5 Initialism of reduction in pay. US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
"[…] recommended as punishment a 55-day RIP (reduction in pay) but was overruled by higher authorities […]"
Show 18 more definitions
- 6 Initialism of ribosome-inactivating protein. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 7 the act of rending or ripping or splitting something wordnet
- 8 A type of strong, rough tide or current.; A rip current: a strong outflow of surface water, away from the shore, that returns water from incoming waves. Australia, New-Zealand
"Rhythmic beaches consist of a rhythmic longshore bar that narrows and deepens when the rip crosses the breaker, and in between broadens, shoals and approaches the shore. It does not, however, reach the shore, with a continuous rip feeder channel feeding the rips to either side of the bar."
- 9 An immoral man; a rake, a scoundrel. colloquial, dated, regional
"Miss Compton, in 'Other People's Worries,' asks rhetorically whether a young rip was not in the Blank divorce case."
- 10 a stretch of turbulent water in a river or the sea caused by one current flowing into or across another current wordnet
- 11 A type of strong, rough tide or current.; A tract of broken water (in a river or stream), particularly one which is not as rough as rapids. in-plural
"At rare intervals the water is smooth and deep, but the rips, rapids and falls give the river its distinctive character. About two and a half miles from its mouth it contracts somewhat, and plunges over a precipice one hundred feet high[…]"
- 12 an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart wordnet
- 13 A comical, embarrassing, or hypocritical event or action. slang
- 14 a dissolute man in fashionable society wordnet
- 15 A hit (dose) of marijuana. slang
- 16 A black mark given for substandard schoolwork. UK
- 17 Something unfairly expensive, a rip-off. slang
- 18 Data or audio copied from a CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc. to a hard drive, portable device, etc. slang
"Some of these CD rips don't sound very good: what bitrate did you use?"
- 19 A fart. slang
- 20 Something ripped off or stolen; a work resulting from plagiarism. slang
"Well that's because groups are now releaseing^([sic]) music in their packs as well as vgas and rips. It^([sic]) you check out some local area code groups I'm sure you'll find high quality ansi if the group is good enough."
- 21 A kind of glissando leading up to the main note to be played. informal
- 22 Ellipsis of ripsaw (“saw for cutting wood along its grain”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 23 A joyride. Canada, slang
"Camp at Kakwa Wildland Park staging area to hit the trails at first light or take a short drive from the city and go for a rip at the Big Mountain area."
Verb
- 1 To divide or separate the parts of (especially something flimsy, such as paper or fabric), by cutting or tearing; to tear off or out by violence. transitive
"to rip a garment; to rip up a floor"
- 2 criticize or abuse strongly and violently wordnet
- 3 To tear apart; to rapidly become two parts. intransitive
"My shirt ripped when it was caught on a bramble."
- 4 tear or be torn violently wordnet
- 5 To remove violently or wrongly. transitive
"A child untimely ripped from its parents' arms."
Show 15 more definitions
- 6 cut (wood) along the grain wordnet
- 7 To get by, or as if by, cutting or tearing. transitive
"He'll rip the fatal secret from her heart."
- 8 move precipitously or violently wordnet
- 9 To move quickly and destructively. figuratively, intransitive
"“Wall,” said the landlord, fetching a long breath, “that’s a purty long sarmon for a chap that rips a little now and then. ...""
- 10 take without the owner's consent wordnet
- 11 To cut wood along (parallel to) the grain.
- 12 To copy data from a CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc., to a hard drive, portable device, etc. slang, transitive
- 13 To take a hit, dose or shot of a drug (such as marijuana) or alcohol. slang
"He spent the day ripping shots at the bar and ripping blunts at home."
- 14 To fart audibly. slang
- 15 To mock or criticize (someone or something). (often used with on and into) US, slang, sometimes, transitive
- 16 To steal; to rip off. slang, transitive
"opensource is a double-edged sword. while you have a chance of people using and improving on the code, you will also have the chance of lamers ripping it."
- 17 To move or act fast; to rush headlong.
- 18 To tear up for search or disclosure, or for alteration; to search to the bottom; to discover; to disclose; usually with up. archaic
"They ripped up all that had been done from the beginning of the rebellion."
- 19 To surf extremely well. intransitive, slang
- 20 To be very good; rock intransitive, slang
Intj
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of RIP. Internet, alt-of
"lmfao rip your dms"
- 2 Initialism of requiescat in pace, requiescant in pace, or rest in peace (a blessing or expression of hope that a deceased person is at peace). abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
"RIP, Pope Francis."
- 3 Initialism of requiescat in pace, requiescant in pace, or rest in peace (a blessing or expression of hope that a deceased person is at peace).; Expressing disappointment at the fact that someone or something has come to an end or gone away. broadly, informal, ironic, often
"RIP Vine. Only real ones remember."
- 4 Initialism of requiescat in pace, requiescant in pace, or rest in peace (a blessing or expression of hope that a deceased person is at peace).; Expressing concern about something bad happening to someone or something. excessive, humorous, ironic, often, slang
"That jumpscare is so loud! RIP headphone users."
- 5 Initialism of requiescat in pace, requiescant in pace, or rest in peace (a blessing or expression of hope that a deceased person is at peace).; Expressing mild disappointment or embarrassment. broadly, slang
"I applied to dozens of companies and didn't get a single job offer, RIP."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Initialism of rest in piss. abbreviation, alt-of, derogatory, initialism
- 7 Initialism of rest in power. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, rare
Proper Noun
- 1 Routing information protocol, a dynamic routing protocol used in local and wide area networks.
- 2 A male given name from Dutch.
- 3 A diminutive of the male given name Ripley.
"Rip Weaver, Rip Rawlings"
Example
"Oi you, that's too much of a rip off by anyone's count! 6:4 is more than enough. Of course I'm the '6'."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rip"?
Common synonyms include: tear, abrade, abrasion, active tearing, agonize, badger.
How do you use "rip" in a sentence?
Oi you, that's too much of a rip off by anyone's count! 6:4 is more than enough. Of course I'm the '6'.
How do you pronounce "rip"?
Pronounced /ɹɪp/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English rippen, from earlier ryppen (“to pluck”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rupjaną, *ruppōną, intensive of *raupijaną, causative of Proto-Indo-European *roub- ~ *reub-, variant of *Hrewp- (“to break”). See also West Frisian rippe, ripje, roppe, ropje (“to rip”), Dutch dialectal rippen, Low German ruppen, German Low German röpen, German rupfen, also Old English rīpan, rīepan (“to plunder”), West Frisian rippe (“to rip, tear”), German raufen (“to rip”); also Albanian rrabe ‘maquis’, possibly Latin rubus (“bramble”). More at reave, rob.
Etymology 2
Uncertain; perhaps a variant of rep (“reprobate”).
Etymology 3
Learned borrowing from Latin RIP (requiescat in pace) and an initialism of rest in peace.
Etymology 4
Originally coined in Selker et al. (1987) as an acronym for rearrangement induced premeiotically, which was later renamed repeat-induced point mutation in Cambareri et al. (1989).