noun
rift
rihft
noun
1
A deep crack or split, especially in the earth or rock.
"A rift opened in the valley floor after the earthquake."
2
A serious disagreement or break in a relationship between people or groups.
"The scandal caused a rift between the two former business partners."
"There has been a growing rift within the party over immigration policy."
verb
1
To split apart.
"The ice sheet rifted along an ancient fault line."
How to Use Rift
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA split — either a physical crack in the ground, or a falling-out between people.
Common pairings
a rift between friends
a rift in the earth
heal the rift
Word Forms
rifted past tense, rifted past tense, rifts plural, rifts singular, rifts singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rift”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ opened in the valley floor after the earthquake.
Etymology
From Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin, related to Old Norse rífa (\"to tear\").