rend

/ɹɛnd/

//ɹɛnd// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"rend" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“rend” is an uncommon English word, ranked #57,671 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#57,671
frequency rank, English
4
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to split; to burst.

Key facts for rend
PropertyValue
Headwordrend
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɛnd/
Letters4
Frequency rank#57,671
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rend” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). rend lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for rend is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɛnd/. Corpus data places it at rank #57,671 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for rend, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English renden, from Old English rendan (“to rend, tear, cut, lacerate, cut down”), from Proto-West Germanic *(h)randijan (“to tear”), of uncertain origin. Believed by some to be the causative of Proto-Germanic *hrindaną (“to push”), from Proto-… The correct English form is rend, spelled R-E-N-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to split; to burst.
  2. 2
    To violently disturb the peace of; to throw into chaos.
  3. 3
    To part or tear off forcibly; to take away by force; to amputate.
  4. 4
    To be rent or torn; to become parted; to separate; to split.

Etymology

From Middle English renden, from Old English rendan (“to rend, tear, cut, lacerate, cut down”), from Proto-West Germanic *(h)randijan (“to tear”), of uncertain origin. Believed by some to be the causative of Proto-Germanic *hrindaną (“to push”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱret-, *kret- (“to hit, beat”), which would make it related to Old English hrindan (“to thrust, push”). Cognate with Scots rent (“to rend, tear”), Old Frisian renda (“to tear”).

This word in other languages

rasgar(Español)rompre(Français)zerreißen(Deutsch)rasgar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "rend"?
"rend" is spelled R-E-N-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɛnd/.
What does "rend" mean?
As a verb, "rend" means: To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to split; to burst.
How do you pronounce "rend"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rend" is /ɹɛnd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "rend"?
From Middle English renden, from Old English rendan (“to rend, tear, cut, lacerate, cut down”), from Proto-West Germanic *(h)randijan (“to tear”), of uncertain origin. Believed by some to be the causative of Proto-Germanic *hrindaną (“to push”), f... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “rend”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-N-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɛnd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list