rift

[rift]

noun

1. an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.; fissure; cleft; chink.

2. an open space, as in a forest or cloud mass, or a clear interval.

3. a break in friendly relations.

   a rift between two people; a rift between two nations.

   Synonyms: falling-out, estrangement, rupture, breach

4. a difference in opinion, belief, or interest that causes such a break in friendly relations.

5. Geology.

   1. a fault.

   2. a graben of regional extent.

6. the plane or direction along which a log or mass of granite can most easily be split.

7. wood or a piece of wood that has been split radially from a log.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to burst open; split.

rift

¹

/ rɪft /

noun

1. a gap or space made by cleaving or splitting; fissure

2. geology a long narrow zone of faulting resulting from tensional stress in the earth's crust

3. a gap between two cloud masses; break or chink

   he saw the sun through a rift in the clouds

4. a break in friendly relations between people, nations, etc

verb

1. to burst or cause to burst open; split

rift

²

/ rɪft /

noun

1. a shallow or rocky part in a stream

2. the backwash from a wave that has just broken

rift

1. A continental rift.

2. A narrow break, crack, or other opening in a rock, usually made by cracking or splitting.

Other Word Forms

• riftless adjective
• unrifted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rift¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old Norse ript breaking of an agreement (compare Danish, Norwegian rift cleavage), derivative of rīfa to tear (cognate with rive )

Word History and Origins

Origin of rift¹

C13: from Old Norse; related to Danish rift cleft, Icelandic ript breach of contract

Origin of rift²

C14: from Old Norse rypta ; related to Icelandic ropa to belch

Example Sentences

Even so, the game still received excellent reviews and won several awards, but the rift between company and creator seemed unfixable.

From BBC

Yet, history suggests that even serious rifts have not derailed relations when larger interests were at stake.

From BBC

The rift between King Charles III and the Duke of Sussex has been painful for all involved and played out in public.

From BBC

The Royal Family don't get a mention, nor is there any discussion of the rift within it.

From BBC

Having taken the women's sevens team to Olympic gold the year before, he was tasked with rebuilding 15-a-side unity and culture amid rifts and allegations of favouritism and disrespect.

From BBC

Related Words

• breach 
• clash 
• disagreement 
• division 
• estrangement 
• misunderstanding 
• quarrel 
• rupture 
• schism 
• split