verb
implode
Implode (verb) means to collapse violently inward. Example: “Engineers detonated charges to make the old tower implode.”
verb
1
To collapse violently inward.
"Engineers detonated charges to make the old tower implode."
"The star implodes under its own gravity before it becomes a black hole."
2
(informal) To fail suddenly and completely from internal problems.
"The band imploded after years of infighting."
How to use implode
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo collapse inward violently, or (informally) to fall apart from the inside.
Common mistake
Implode means to collapse inward; explode means to burst outward — they are opposites, not synonyms.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the building imploded
her career imploded
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- implodes
- Past tense
- imploded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Engineers detonated charges to make the old tower _____.
Etymology
A back-formation from implosion, itself modelled on explosion.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for implode
See all rhymes for implode →Frequently asked questions
What does “implode” mean?
The word “implode” means to collapse violently inward. In plain terms, to collapse inward violently, or (informally) to fall apart from the inside.
How do you use “implode” in a sentence?
Here is “implode” used in a sentence: “Engineers detonated charges to make the old tower implode.”
What part of speech is “implode”?
“Implode” is a verb.
How many meanings does “implode” have?
“Implode” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to collapse violently inward.
