Word.ws English Dictionary

rip

/ɹɪp/

rip verb: 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. Also the ellipsis of high quality rip.

rip: to divide or separate the parts of (especially something flimsy, such as paper or fabric), by...
Image: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility at, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Verb

rip (third-person singular simple present rips, present participle ripping, simple past and past participle ripped)

  1. (transitive) 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.
    • to rip a garment; to rip up a floor
    • For a spell we done pretty well. Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC
  2. (intransitive) To tear apart; to rapidly become two parts.
    • My shirt ripped when it was caught on a bramble.
  3. (transitive) To remove violently or wrongly.
    • A child untimely ripped from its parents' arms.
    • Mary is sister to the marginalized women who live unchronicled lives in oppressive situations. It does her no honor to rip her out of her conflictual, dangerous historical circumstances and transmute her into an icon of a peaceful, middle-class life robed in royal blue.2000 June 17, Elizabeth A. Johnson, “Mary of Nazareth: Friend of God and Prophet”, in America, volume 182, number 21
  4. (transitive) To get by, or as if by, cutting or tearing.
    • He'll rip the fatal secret from her heart.1726, George Granville, Cleora
  5. (figuratively, intransitive) To move quickly and destructively.
    • The tornado ripped through northern Nebraska.
    • “Wall,” said the landlord, fetching a long breath, “that’s a purty long sarmon for a chap that rips a little now and then. ..."1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 3
  6. To cut wood along (parallel to) the grain.
  7. (slang, transitive) To copy data from a CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc., to a hard drive, portable device, etc.
  8. (slang) To take a hit, dose or shot of a drug (such as marijuana) or alcohol.
    • He spent the day ripping shots at the bar and ripping blunts at home.
    • ... ripping shots of cheap liquor is the easiest way to reach intoxication. It is cheaper and less time-consuming than sharing a craft beer with a friend.2019 July 15, Trevor Gundlach, Barstool Theology: Crafting the Good Life, Our Sunday Visitor, →ISBN
  9. (slang) To fart audibly.
    • The rest of us had our days, but Dewey was consistent. He could fart on demand. If we were at a movie, one of us would whisper to Dewey, “Hey, Dewey, let one rip,” and he would smile, raise a leg, and let one go. He had one lined up ready for launching just for the asking.2005, Dan Bomkamp, “16: Gassed”, in The Gosey: Four Boys, a Swimming Hole, a Summer Adventure, Guest Cottage, →ISBN, page 156
  10. (US, slang, sometimes, transitive) To mock or criticize (someone or something). (often used with on and into)
    • He spent the entire forty-five-minute ride home ripping on me: my makeup, my hair, my clothing, my “gear bag” (his cowboy slang for my purse).2011 August, Victorie Powers, The Panty Theory, Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC, →ISBN, page 57
  11. (slang, transitive) To steal; to rip off.
    • 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.2001, rex deathstar, “Opensource on demoscene”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.demos (Usenet)
    • I don't really care if someone rips my 3d engine, rips effects code, or anything - simply because my 3d engine and effects will be far more advanced when someone manages to use my code.2001, Maciej Mróz, “thoughts on code-sharing”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.demos (Usenet)
  12. To move or act fast; to rush headlong.
Show 3 more meaningsShow fewer meanings
  1. (archaic) To tear up for search or disclosure, or for alteration; to search to the bottom; to discover; to disclose; usually with up.
    • They ripped up all that had been done from the beginning of the rebellion.1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed...
    • For brethren to debate and rip up their falling out in the ear of a common enemy […] is neither wise nor comely.1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC
  2. (intransitive, slang) To surf extremely well.
  3. (intransitive, slang) To be very good; rock

Noun (1)

rip (plural rips)

  1. A tear (in paper, etc.).
  2. (Australia, New Zealand) A rip current: a strong outflow of surface water, away from the shore, that returns water from incoming waves.
    • 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.2000, Andrew Short, Beaches of the Queensland Coast: Cooktown to Coolangatta, page 38
    • Undertows (or ‘rips’) are the main problem. If you find yourself being carried out by a rip, the important thing to do is just keep afloat; don′t panic or try to swim against the rip, which will exhaust you. In most cases the current stops within a couple of hundred metres of the shore and you can...2005, Paul Smitz, Australia & New Zealand on a Shoestring, Lonely Planet, page 466
  3. (in plural) A tract of broken water (in a river or stream), particularly one which is not as rough as rapids.
    • 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[…]1881, Frank Leslie, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, page 148
    • In the 5.8 miles between this point and the head of Burnt Land Rips the fall is 40 feet. The East Branch joins the main river about 1 1⁄2 miles below the rips at Medway. A part of this fall could probably be developed by a dam near the head of the Joe Mary Rapids, but the pondage created by a high...1911, Water-supply Paper, page 148
  4. (slang) A comical, embarrassing, or hypocritical event or action.
  5. (slang) A hit (dose) of marijuana.
  6. (UK, Eton College) A black mark given for substandard schoolwork.
  7. (slang) Something unfairly expensive, a rip-off.
  8. (slang) Data or audio copied from a CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc. to a hard drive, portable device, etc.
    • Some of these CD rips don't sound very good: what bitrate did you use?
  9. (slang) A fart.
  10. (slang) Something ripped off or stolen; a work resulting from plagiarism.
    • 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.1995, Mark Treiber, “Ansi Artist Wanted!”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.demos (Usenet)
    • Scans and rips sucks, ofcourse^([sic]). But a graphician, redrawing a picture does make him less good. A pixeled image should be judged by the skills and originality in the picture, not by the motive.2000, Jerker Olofsson, “What to do about rippers....?”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.demos (Usenet)
  11. (informal) A kind of glissando leading up to the main note to be played.
  12. (Canada, slang) A joyride.
    • 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.2015 September 29, Mason Buettner, “Grande Prairie Has It All When It Comes to Snowmobiling”, in SnoRidersWest.com, Cranbrook, British Columbia: KPI Media, retrieved 29 Jan 2022

Noun (2)

rip (plural rips)

  1. (colloquial, dated, regional) A worthless horse; a nag.
  2. (colloquial, dated, regional) An immoral man; a rake, a scoundrel.
    • "Bad luck to yer, ye ould rip," sez he, "what a purty thrick yuv played me, to bring me here;" an' he still wint an yellin', and the farther they got an the bridge, the loudher he yelled[.]1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 526
    • Miss Compton, in 'Other People's Worries,' asks rhetorically whether a young rip was not in the Blank divorce case.1922, The Saturday Review, volume 133, page 359

Noun (3)

rip (plural rips)

  1. (Scotland) A handful of unthreshed grain.

Interjection capitalized: RIP

IPA/ɑː(ɹ)aɪ ˈpiː/

  1. (abbreviation, initialism) 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).
    • RIP, Pope Francis.
    • But Sandor shoves his knife through his brother’s head, and when that doesn’t stop him, he sacrifices himself to kill his sibling, knocking them from the tower and plunging into the blazing fire below. R.I.P., Sandor Clegane and your malevolent brother.2019 May 12, Alex McLevy, “Westeros faces a disastrous final battle on the penultimate Game of Thrones (newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 15 May 2019
    1. (broadly, informal, ironic, often) Expressing disappointment at the fact that someone or something has come to an end or gone away.
      • RIP Vine. Only real ones remember.
      • A couple of locally owned restaurants I enjoyed in my town didn't survive covid. RIP the one Indian food place within 100 miles.2022 October 24, u/5hrs4hrs3hrs2hrs1mor, “What is something that disappeared after the pandemic?”, in Reddit, r/AskReddit, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2024
    2. (excessive, humorous, ironic, often, slang) Expressing concern about something bad happening to someone or something.
      • That jumpscare is so loud! RIP headphone users.
      • RIP your DMs.
    3. (broadly, slang) Expressing mild disappointment or embarrassment.
      • I applied to dozens of companies and didn't get a single job offer, RIP.
      • Oops I slipped and posted some of my art rip2022 February 7, @Bakunawaart, Twitter, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2024
  2. (abbreviation, derogatory, initialism) Initialism of rest in piss.
  3. (abbreviation, initialism, rare) Initialism of rest in power.

Proper noun (1) capitalized: RIP

RIP

  1. Routing information protocol, a dynamic routing protocol used in local and wide area networks.

Noun (4) capitalized: RIP

RIP (uncountable)

  1. (molecular biology) Repeat-induced point mutation, a process by which both copies of duplicated sequences are mutated.
    • 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.1987 December 4, Eric U. Selker, Edward B. Cambareri, Bryan C. Jensen, Kenneth R. Haack, “Rearrangement of duplicated DNA in specialized cells of Neurospora”, in Cell, volume 51, number 5, page 750
    • Thus, the RIP process results in point mutations, consistent with the results from the heteroduplex analyses. On the basis of this information, we suggest changing the name of the phenomenon from "rearrangement induced premeiotically" to "repeat-induced point mutation."1989 June 30, Edward B. Cambareri, Bryan C. Jensen, Eric Schabtach, Eric U. Selker, “Repeat-Induced G-C to A-T Mutations in Neurospora”, in Science, volume 244, number 4912, page 1573

Noun (5) capitalized: RIP

RIP (plural RIPs)

  1. (US, abbreviation, initialism) Initialism of reduction in pay.
    • […] recommended as punishment a 55-day RIP (reduction in pay) but was overruled by higher authorities […]1972, New York Magazine, volume 5, number 5, page 32
    • He admitted to his indiscretion and accepted a five-day RIP (reduction in pay). What the hell is going on? I wondered. We let a captain with possible O.C. connections off the hook, but we bust a patrolman for having a drink!1991, Vincent Murano, William Hoffer, Cop Hunter, page 73

Noun (6) capitalized: RIP

RIP (plural RIPs)

  1. (abbreviation, initialism) Initialism of ribosome-inactivating protein.

Proper noun (2) capitalized: Rip

Rip

  1. A male given name from Dutch.
  2. A diminutive of the male given name Ripley.
    • Rip Weaver, Rip Rawlings

Also used as

rip is also the ellipsis of high quality rip.

rip is also the ellipsis of ripsaw.

rip is also the alternative letter-case form of RIP.

rip meaning in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Sanskrit

rip in Hindi

चीरने के लिए

rip in Telugu

చీల్చడానికి, చీల్చివేయడానికి

rip in Kannada

ಸೀಳಲು

rip in Sanskrit

to divide or separate the parts of
दृणाति dṛṇāti
More languagesFewer languages
rip in Persian
فتردن fatardan
rip in Vietnamese
xé, cắt

Examples of rip in a sentence

  • She explodes as multiple magazine detonations rip the ship apart, and is lost with all hands.2018 October 17, Drachinifel, 21:33 from the start, in Last Ride of the High Seas Fleet - Battle of Texel 1918, archived from the original...
  • On 18 November 1987 a horrific flash fire ripped through the escalators and ticket hall of King's Cross tube station, killing thirty people.2007, Roger Baker, Emotional Processing, page 136:
  • "... ripping shots of Jack Daniel's and vomiting in the bathroom.”2022 September 12, Brian W. Kelly, Wilkes-Barre: Return to Glory Iii: The City’s Return to Glory Begins with Dreams and Ideas, Xlibris...
  • […]an old demo by some bods called "kellogs and donovan" which had ripped graphics from the game "Barbarian"[…]2002, Ray Norrish, “Barbarian demo circa 1988?”, in alt.emulators.amiga (Usenet):

All 40 example sentences with rip

Synonyms of rip

Forms of rip

Verb
third-person singular presentrips
present participleripping
past participleripped
pastripped
Noun
pluralrips
pluralRIPs
Interjection
alternative formR.I.P.
alternative formrip

Past tense of rip: ripped

Plural of rip: rips

Origin of rip

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.

Uncertain; perhaps a variant of rep (“reprobate”).

Learned borrowing from Latin RIP (requiescat in pace) and an initialism of rest in peace.

Words formed from rip

Phrases with rip

15 more phrasesFewer phrases

Words that rhyme with rip

39 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about rip

What does rip mean?
Rip means 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.
What is rip in Hindi?
Rip in Hindi is चीरने के लिए. See Rip meaning in Hindi.
How do you use rip in a sentence?
She explodes as multiple magazine detonations rip the ship apart, and is lost with all hands.
What part of speech is rip?
Rip can be a verb, a noun, an interjection or a proper noun.
How do you pronounce rip?
Rip is pronounced /ɹɪp/.
What is the past tense of rip?
The past tense of rip is ripped.

Words near rip in the dictionary

  1. riotousness
  2. riotousnesses
  3. riotproof
  4. riotry
  5. riots
  6. rip
  7. rip a page out of someone's book
  8. rip a page out of someone's playbook
  9. rip along
  10. rip and dip
  11. rip apart

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: rip (page history and authors); RIP (page history and authors); Rip (page history and authors); rip (Hindi, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); rip (Telugu, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); rip (Kannada, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: en-us-rip.ogg, en-au-rip.ogg.

Cite this entry: “rip.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/rip. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.