verb
detonate
DEH-tuh-nayt
Detonate (verb) means to explode, or to make something explode. Example: “Bomb disposal experts detonated the device safely.”
verb
1
To explode, or to make something explode.
"The engineers detonated the dynamite and watched the old building collapse."
"Bomb disposal experts detonated the device safely."
"The old shell finally detonated when it was disturbed."
How to use detonate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo set off an explosion, or to blow up.
Common pairings
detonate a bomb
fail to detonate
remotely detonate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- detonates
- Past tense
- detonated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Bomb disposal experts _____ the device safely.
Etymology
From Latin detonare ("to thunder down"), from de- + tonare ("to thunder").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for detonate
See all rhymes for detonate →Frequently asked questions
What does “detonate” mean?
The word “detonate” means to explode, or to make something explode. In plain terms, to set off an explosion, or to blow up.
How do you pronounce “detonate”?
“Detonate” is pronounced DEH-tuh-nayt (/ˈdɛtəˌneɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “detonate” in a sentence?
Here is “detonate” used in a sentence: “Bomb disposal experts detonated the device safely.”
What part of speech is “detonate”?
“Detonate” is a verb.
Where does the word “detonate” come from?
The word “detonate” comes from Latin. From Latin detonare ("to thunder down"), from de- + tonare ("to thunder").
