rift

1 of 2

noun

1
2
: a clear space or interval
3

rift

2 of 2

verb

rifted; rifting; rifts

intransitive verb

: to burst open

transitive verb

1
: cleave, divide
hills were rifted by the earthquake
2

Examples of rift in a Sentence

Noun The fight will only widen the rift with his brother. the rift in the rock We could see some stars through the rifts in the clouds. Scientists are studying the Mid-Atlantic Rift.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The resolution represented the toughest position the U.S. has taken on the war as a rift between the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deepens. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Trending on Billboard Monday’s objections highlight a recent rift between Katherine and Blanket. Bill Donahue, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 Last week, the Continent’s two major players, France and Germany, held a summit to begin repairing a Franco-German rift on Ukraine that has complicated the supply of arms to Kyiv. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024 The issue has caused a rift in the campus community as LGBTQ+ students and their families voice discomfort with Gaines’ presence on such an important day. Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 In June 2023, for instance, Nanook was heading home across the frozen ocean after an ice fishing trip when a rift appeared to open in the ice beneath one of her sled’s runners. Hannah Hoag, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 The countries have engaged in a trade war amid a diplomatic rift, enacting tit-for-tat restrictions including U.S. moves to curb future investments in China and to scrutinize past investments in sensitive sectors. Erin Griffith, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 In the past, societal rifts have been observed between different generations, but according to the FT’s analyses, this century, for the first time, a real ideological gap has emerged and developed within the same generation of young men and women. Luba Kassova, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 And then there is the intense political division, misinformation and familial rifts that surface in the run-up to a presidential election. Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
However, the supercontinent began to rift and splinter in the late Triassic about 230 million years ago. Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022 The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Dec. 2019 Collectively, the two plates are also rifting away from the Arabian Plate, which already separates Africa from the Middle East. Susmita Baral, Teen Vogue, 13 Apr. 2018 That is, for fall, alongside rifted-upon replicas of archival pieces, Balenciaga sent out tote bags in fuchsia taffeta and feathers to match the flouncy dresses. Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 15 Mar. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Norwegian rift fissure, Old Norse rīfa to rive — more at rive

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of rift was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rift

Cite this Entry

“Rift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rift. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rift

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: an opening made by splitting or separation : cleft
b
: a normal geological fault
2
: a break in friendly relations : breach

rift

2 of 2 verb

More from Merriam-Webster on rift

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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