Rift — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈrift/

Meaning & Definition of Rift

Rift (noun)

  1. fissure, crevasse
  2. fault
  3. a clear space or interval

Rift (verb)

  1. to burst open
  2. cleave, divide
  3. penetrate

Rift (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure

    "a small rift opened in the earth's crust"

    similar: check, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure, split
    related: crevasse, craze, hairline, fracture, rupture, breach, gap, opening, cut, gash, incision, slit

  2. an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)

    "it was possible to peek through the rift in the fence and see the ball game"

    similar: breach, break, discontinuity, gap, gulf, hiatus, hole, interstice, interval, opening, rent, separation, void
    related: chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure, notch, slit, slot, split, interspace, pore, abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice, fracture, rupture, severance, sundering

Rift (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in break, tear

    similar: break, fracture, pull, rend, rip, rive, rupture, tear, cut, gash, incise, lacerate, notch, slash, slit, penetrate, perforate, puncture, break down, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, dissolve, bifurcate, bisect, cleave, dichotomize, dissect, fractionalize, fractionate, halve, partition, quarter, segment, subdivide, trisect, fragment, fragmentate, fragmentize, detach, disengage, disentangle, unravel, untie, break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke
    opposite: close, darn, fill, heal, knit, mend, patch, plug, repair, seal, sew, stitch, suture, accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, fasten, fuse, stick, weld, combine, connect, consolidate, couple, join, link, merge, unify, unite

Related Entry: Rift valley (noun)

Rift valley is a different word from Rift. The synonyms below are for rift valley, not for rift.

  1. as in canyon, gorge

    similar: canyon, combe (British), dell, depression, dingle, glen, gorge, gulch, gully, kloof (South African), ravine, dale, dene (British), hollow, vale, valley, basin, bowl
    opposite: alp, mount, mountain, peak, height, mountaintop, pinnacle, summit, plateau, tableland

Related Entry: Rift valleys (noun)

Rift valleys is a different word from Rift. The synonyms below are for rift valleys, not for rift.

  1. as in canyons, gorges

    similar: canyons, combes (British), dells, depressions, dingles, glens, gorges, gulches, gullies, kloofs (South African), ravines, dales, denes (British), hollows, vales, valleys, basins, bowls
    opposite: alps, mountains, mounts, peaks, heights, mountaintops, pinnacles, summits, plateaus, tablelands

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rift

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rift:

check, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure, split, breach, break, discontinuity, gap, gulf, hiatus, hole, interstice, interval, opening, rent, separation, void, fracture, pull, rend, rip, rive, rupture, tear, cut, gash, incise, lacerate, notch, slash, slit, penetrate, perforate, puncture, break down, decompose

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rift

Words with the opposite meaning of Rift:

close, darn, fill, heal, knit, mend, patch, plug, repair, seal, sew, stitch, suture, accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, fasten, fuse, stick, weld, combine, connect, consolidate, couple, join, link, merge, unify

Related Words for Rift

crevasse, craze, hairline, incision, slot, interspace, pore, abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice, severance, sundering

Word Forms of Rift

Inflections: rifted, rifting, rifts

Origin & Etymology of Rift

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

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Rift

rift valley, Rift Valley fever, heal the rift/breach

Frequently Asked Questions about Rift

What does "Rift" mean?

"Rift" means fissure, crevasse. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: fissure, crevasse. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Rift"?

Other words for "Rift" include check, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure and split. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rift" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rift"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rift". Common alternatives include check, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure, split, breach and break.

What is the opposite of "Rift"?

Antonyms of "Rift" include close, darn, fill, heal, knit, mend, patch and plug.

How do you use "Rift" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rift" in a sentence: "a small rift opened in the earth's crust"; "it was possible to peek through the rift in the fence and see the ball game".

Is "Rift" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rift" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Rift"?

"Rift" is pronounced /ˈrift/.

What is the origin of the word "Rift"?

"Rift" comes from Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Norwegian rift fissure, Old Norse rīfa to rive rive. First known use: 14th century.