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collapse

/kəˈlæps/noun, verb2 syllables

Collapse means: break down, literally or metaphorically.

Synonyms for collapse22

noun, as in an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion

prostration

noun, as in the act of throwing yourself down; collapse; sink

flop

noun, as in a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)

crash

verb, as in break down, literally or metaphorically

fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder, abandon, give up, burst

verb, as in cause to burst

burst, fall in, cave in, give, give way, break, founder

verb, as in fall apart

crumble, crumple, tumble, break down

verb, as in suffer a nervous breakdown

crack up, crack, crock up, break up

verb, as in collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack

break down

also used for collapse

slump, telescope

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does collapse mean?11

verb

1

break down, literally or metaphorically“The wall collapsed”

2

cause to burst“The ice broke the pipe”

3

fall apart“the building crumbled after the explosion”

4

suffer a nervous breakdown

5

collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack

6

fold or close up“fold up your umbrella”

7

lose significance, effectiveness, or value“The school system is collapsing”

noun

1

an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion“the commander's prostration demoralized his men”

2

the act of throwing yourself down; collapse; sink“he landed on the bed with a great flop”

3

a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)

4

a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in“the roof is in danger of collapse”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with collapse?18

two syllables

perhapsrelapse
Show 40 near rhymes
thatashaveatancanhashadthanbacklastmanambadthankblackthanksfacthalfhandunderstandyeahclasspastaskactaskedplanchancelandalbankhandsstandtaxfastmatchaddattackdamn

Collapse in a sentence

  • If you don't take a vacation, you'll collapse.CK
  • If there are no standards, our civilization will collapse.Amastan
  • It's not a matter of if the bridge will collapse, but when.unknown
  • Shortly afterwards, intense flames caused the second floor to collapse.LoverofEnglish
  • After the currency collapse, people found their savings suddenly valueless.rul
  • Move the knob at the side of the seat forwards, collapse the seat.unknown
  • If there's a big earthquake, the house could really collapse!FeuDRenais
  • Nobody else can enter the building, as it could collapse at any moment.AlanF_US

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of collapse

as a noun

plural
collapses

as a verb

past tense
collapsed
present participle
collapsing
third-person singular
collapses
past participle
collapsed