The　adsorptive　removal　of　tetracycline　(TC)　was　studied　with　three　types　of　zirconium-based　metal–organic　frameworks　(Zr-MOFs),　UiO-66,　NU-1000　and　MOF-525.　The　adsorption　kinetics　best　fitted　with　the　pseudo-second-order　kinetic　model　and　the　adsorption　equilibrium　was　rapidly　reached　within　40　min　on　UiO-66　and　NU-1000,　and　120　min　on　MOF-525.　The　adsorption　isotherms　best　fitted　with　Sips　model,　and　the　maximum　Sips　adsorption　capacities　of　TC　on　UiO-66,　NU-1000　and　MOF-525　were　145　mg·g−1,　356　mg·g−1　and　807　mg·g−1　respectively,　which　were　much　higher　than　common　adsorbents.　The　X-ray　photoelectron　spectra　measurements　and　the　influence　of　pH　suggested　that　the　π-π　interaction　played　a　crucial　role　during　the　adsorption.　Pore　characteristics　and　topology　of　MOFs　showed　great　effect　on　adsorption　performance.　The　cages　whose　size　match　well　with　TC　helped　MOF-525　to　get　highest　adsorption　amount　per　surface　area　among　MOFs　we　studied.　The　proper　topology　of　NU-1000　contributed　to　its　high　adsorption　rate.　River　water　was　also　used　to　confirm　the　excellent　adsorptive　performance　of　these　three　Zr-MOFs　in　practical　application.　These　results　might　aid　us　to　comprehend　the　adsorption　of　TC　on　Zr-MOFs　and　expand　the　application　of　Zr-MOFs　in　water　treatment　for　removal　of　emerging　contaminants.　©　2021