What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rive
Example
The thunderstorm caused the tree to rive in half. [rive: verb]
Example
He rived the log into smaller pieces with an axe. [rived: past tense]
rend
Example
The lioness rended the flesh from the prey's bones. [rend: verb]
Example
The strong winds rended the sails of the ship. [rended: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rive is more commonly used than rend in everyday language. Rive is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while rend is more specific and often used in the context of destruction or violence.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rive and rend?
Both rive and rend are formal words that are not commonly used in everyday conversation. However, rend may be considered more formal due to its less frequent usage.
