noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

smash

Smash (noun) means the loud sound of a violent collision or impact. Example: “There was a loud smash as the vase hit the floor.”

noun

The loud sound of a violent collision or impact.

"There was a loud smash as the vase hit the floor."

Something enormously successful and popular.

"The film was an instant box office smash."

verb

To break something violently into pieces.

"The ball smashed the window on the first pitch."

To defeat someone overwhelmingly.

"The home team smashed their rivals 6-0."

How to use smash

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo break something violently, or (as a noun) a huge hit or success.

Common pairings

smash hit smash into pieces smash the competition

Word forms

smashed past tense, smashes plural, smashes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “smash” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

There was a loud _____ as the vase hit the floor.

Etymology

Origin uncertain, likely imitative of the sound itself — similar to Swedish and Danish words describing smacking or kissing sounds made with the lips.

Origin: Swedish

Synonyms

View more →

shatter demolish wreck crush pulverize trounce thump wallop go to bed with sleep with

Related words

have know love service fuck hit break kill

Rhymes for smash

ash lash mash bash rash cash gash dash wash hash sash Tash

See all rhymes for smash →

Frequently asked questions

What does “smash” mean?

The word “smash” means the loud sound of a violent collision or impact. In plain terms, to break something violently, or (as a noun) a huge hit or success.

How do you pronounce “smash”?

“Smash” is pronounced smash (/smæʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “smash” in a sentence?

Here is “smash” used in a sentence: “There was a loud smash as the vase hit the floor.”

What is another word for “smash”?

Words with a similar meaning to “smash” include thump, wallop, go to bed with and sleep with.

What part of speech is “smash”?

Depending on how it is used, “smash” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “smash” come from?

The word “smash” comes from Swedish. Origin uncertain, likely imitative of the sound itself — similar to Swedish and Danish words describing smacking or kissing sounds made with the lips.

Is “smash” a common word?

“Smash” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “smash” have?

“Smash” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the loud sound of a violent collision or impact.

What is the difference between smash and break?

Break is the general word for separating into pieces, while smash means to break something violently, usually into many pieces and with noise. A plate can break in two if dropped gently; it smashes when it is hurled at a wall.

What is the difference between smash and crash?

A crash is primarily a violent collision or the loud noise of one, as in a car crash. A smash emphasises breaking into pieces; as a sound, it is the noise of something shattering on impact. The two overlap, and "car smash" is also used, chiefly in British English.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include smash:

Words with scandinavian origins Words that end with H

People also searched

have know love service fuck hit break kill