tear down

destroy a building or structure completely

B2

What does "tear sth down" mean?

To tear down a building or structure means to deliberately demolish it — to bring it completely to the ground, usually to clear the space for something new. It is most often used when a structure is removed as part of a planned decision, such as urban redevelopment, road-building, or modernisation. The phrase is neutral in tone and appears just as naturally in news reports and planning documents as it does in everyday conversation. It can also be used metaphorically to describe dismantling abstract systems or barriers, such as trade restrictions or outdated institutions. Compared to the more formal word 'demolish', 'tear down' sounds slightly more direct and energetic, but it is not slang — both are widely acceptable.

Examples

How to use it

tear down + structure

The most common pattern, used when the object is a full noun phrase describing the structure being demolished.

The developers plan to tear down the old warehouse and replace it with apartments.

tear + structure + down

With short noun phrases, the particle 'down' can move to the end — both positions are equally natural.

They've already torn the wall down on the eastern side of the site.

tear + pronoun + down

When using a pronoun instead of a noun, it must always go between 'tear' and 'down' — placing it after 'down' is not grammatical.

The fence was an eyesore, so the council finally tore it down.

subject + be + torn down

The passive is very natural with this phrasal verb, especially when the focus is on the building rather than who demolished it.

The original town hall was torn down in the 1970s to make way for a shopping centre.

be + going to / be + tearing down (planned future)

The present continuous and 'going to' structures work particularly well to describe demolition that has already been decided or is imminent.

They're going to tear down the old cinema next spring if the planning permission goes through.

Common Collocations

tear down a buildingtear down a walltear down a statuetear down a fencetear down the old [place]

Common Mistakes

Irregular past tense

The verb 'tear' is irregular. Many learners write 'teared down', but the correct past tense is 'tore down' and the past participle is 'torn down'.

✗ They teared down the old factory last year.
✓ They tore down the old factory last year.
Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun, it must come between 'tear' and 'down'. Placing it after 'down' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ The building was unsafe, so they tore down it.
✓ The building was unsafe, so they tore it down.
Confusing 'tear down' with 'tear apart'

'Tear down' describes demolishing a structure or dismantling a system, while 'tear apart' suggests destroying something by ripping it into pieces, or criticising something very harshly. They are not interchangeable.

✗ The demolition crew tore apart the old bridge overnight.
✓ The demolition crew tore down the old bridge overnight.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both everyday speech and formal writing, making it a useful alternative to 'demolish'. When using a pronoun as the object, it must go between 'tear' and 'down': say 'tear it down', never 'tear down it'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'tear down' always refer to physical buildings?

No — while it most commonly refers to demolishing physical structures like buildings, walls, or bridges, it is also widely used in a figurative sense. You might hear phrases like 'tear down trade barriers' or 'tear down an outdated system', meaning to dismantle or remove something that was established over time. The object type usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Can 'tear down' be used in formal writing, like a news article or report?

Yes, 'tear down' is neutral enough to appear in journalism, news reports, and even planning documents. It is slightly less formal than 'demolish', but not colloquial — using either in a formal context is perfectly acceptable.

Is 'tear down' more American or British English?

It is used naturally in both American and British English. British speakers sometimes prefer 'pull down' for demolition, but 'tear down' is understood and used on both sides of the Atlantic without sounding unusual.

Can I use 'tear down' in the present perfect continuous — for example, 'they've been tearing it down for weeks'?

That sentence is grammatically correct, but it's less common than using the simple present perfect: 'they've been tearing it down' works, but most speakers would say 'they've been demolishing it' or simply 'they've torn down most of it'. The simple present perfect ('they've torn down half the building') tends to sound more natural.

What kinds of things can be the object of 'tear down'?

Typical objects are physical structures: buildings, walls, bridges, fences, statues, towers, and factories. It also works with abstract objects in a figurative sense, such as barriers, systems, or institutions. However, if you're describing something being ripped off a surface — like a poster being pulled from a wall — that is a different sense of 'tear down' and belongs to a separate meaning.

Related Phrasal Verbs

knock sth down
pull sth down

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