rift

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɹɪft/ See IPA manual

Freq #12888

Meanings

1

noun
A serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people.

The argument over money caused a lasting rift between the two brothers.
2

noun
A deep crack or split in rock or the ground.

Lava flowed up through a rift in the volcanic floor.
3

noun
A gap or opening, especially in clouds, that lets light through.

Sunlight streamed through a rift in the clouds.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a serious break in friendly... breach split

2 noun · a deep crack or split in... fissure chasm crack

3 noun · a gap or opening,... gap break

Word family

Forms riftingrifts

Derived forms palaeoriftpaleoriftriftlessriftsawnrifty

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

rift valley
a steep-sided valley formed by movement along faults in Earth's crust

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”). More at rive.

rift Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# rift

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪft/
**Frequency rank:** 12888

## Meanings
1. A serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people.
2. A deep crack or split in rock or the ground.
3. A gap or opening, especially in clouds, that lets light through.

## Examples
- The argument over money caused a lasting rift between the two brothers.
- Lava flowed up through a rift in the volcanic floor.
- Sunlight streamed through a rift in the clouds.

## Derived Forms
- palaeorift
- paleorift
- riftless
- riftsawn
- rifty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: rift

## Etymology
From Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”). More at rive.

## AI Etymology
Rift is from Middle English rift, of North Germanic origin; akin to Danish rift, Norwegian Bokmål rift (“breach”), Old Norse rífa (“to tear”). More at rive. Important recorded forms include rift (Middle English). Current senses include a serious break in friendly relations; a state of conflict or distance between people and a deep crack or split in rock or the ground. The wider family includes derived forms such as palaeorift, paleorift, riftless, riftsawn, and rifty.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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