verb
C2
Proficient
topple
TOPL
Topple (verb) means to fall over, or to cause something to fall over, especially from being top-heavy or unstable. Example: “The stack of boxes toppled over when the door slammed.”
verb
1
To fall over, or to cause something to fall over, especially from being top-heavy or unstable.
"The stack of boxes toppled over when the door slammed."
"A gust of wind toppled the old fence."
2
To overthrow a government or leader.
"The uprising eventually toppled the dictatorship."
How to use topple
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fall over (or knock something over), or, for governments and leaders, to be overthrown.
Common pairings
topple a regime
topple over
topple a statue
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Word forms
- Plural
- topples
- Third person singular
- topples
- Past tense
- toppled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The stack of boxes _____ over when the door slammed.
Etymology
From "top" plus "-le", a suffix that historically formed repeated or gradual actions — the sense of something tipping over bit by bit from being top-heavy.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “topple” mean?
The word “topple” means to fall over, or to cause something to fall over, especially from being top-heavy or unstable. In plain terms, to fall over (or knock something over), or, for governments and leaders, to be overthrown.
How do you pronounce “topple”?
“Topple” is pronounced TOPL (/ˈtɑpl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “topple” in a sentence?
Here is “topple” used in a sentence: “The stack of boxes toppled over when the door slammed.”
What part of speech is “topple”?
“Topple” is a verb.
How many meanings does “topple” have?
“Topple” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fall over, or to cause something to fall over, especially from being top-heavy or unstable.
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