What does ripping mean?
Ripping is chiefly an informal adjective meaning excellent, enjoyable, or impressive, as in “a ripping time” and “ripping good.” It conveys enthusiastic approval more strongly than merely saying that something is good. In older British usage, it was a familiar form of praise and also appeared in combinations such as “ripping gear” for excellent equipment. Ripping can also be the present participle of the verb rip: it may describe forceful or rapid tearing, as in “wind ripping at the shutters,” or form part of the informal idiom “ripping off,” meaning stealing, copying, or exploiting. The word therefore carries both positive and negative associations depending on context, although its best-known standalone use is the approving adjective.
Informal: excellent, enjoyable, impressive, or extremely good.
"The children had a ripping time at the fair."
Chiefly informal; historically associated especially with British English.
The present participle of rip: tearing or pulling apart forcefully or quickly; also used figuratively in the expression “ripping off.”
"The engine was ripping loudly as the car climbed the hill."
The expression “ripping off” is informal and means stealing, copying, or unfairly exploiting.
Once a favourite piece of British slang, “ripping” turns an ordinary observation into emphatic praise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ripping come from?
The verb rip ultimately derives from Old English rīpan, meaning “to tear” or “pull apart,” and is related to words such as ripe and riven. By the late 19th century, “ripping” had developed into an informal British adjective meaning “excellent,” a use that survives in phrases such as “a ripping time.” The separate expression “ripping off” developed in the figurative sense of taking or copying something illicitly.
Related word forms
How ripping is actually used
The adjective sense is informal and especially associated with British English, although it is now understood in American English too. The phrase “ripping off” is informal and can mean either copying another person's work or stealing from someone.
Easily confused with ripping
Ripping can mean excellent or describe the act of tearing, while ripped usually means torn apart, though it can also be an informal synonym for excellent.