implode

[ im-plohd ]

verb (used without object)

, im·plod·ed, im·plod·ing.

1. to burst inward ( explode ).

verb (used with object)

, im·plod·ed, im·plod·ing.

1. Phonetics. to pronounce by implosion.

implode

/ ɪmˈpləʊd /

verb

1. to collapse or cause to collapse inwards in a violent manner as a result of external pressure

   the vacuum flask imploded

2. tr to pronounce (a consonant) with or by implosion

Word History and Origins

Origin of implode¹

First recorded in 1880–85; im- ¹ + (ex)plode

Word History and Origins

Origin of implode¹

C19: from im- + ( ex ) plode

Example Sentences

The Los Angeles Dodgers could have imploded after a historic series of miscues allowed the opposing Tampa Bay Rays to tie the World Series at two games apiece Saturday night.

From FiveThirtyEight

Entire industries—retail, restaurant, and travel among them—were imploding.

From Outside Online

The defending AL champs did not completely implode after the most tumultuous offseason in recent baseball memory.

From FiveThirtyEight

Shortly thereafter, as you may have noticed, the free-market system imploded, and our Suzuki contacts claim to have no knowledge of what became of the bike.

From Popular-Science

Zeidan told the Blade the explosion caused “one entire side of the house to sort of implode inwards with all the glass” and “the living room fixtures blew inside as well.”

From Washington Blade

That star would all too famously implode with her tragic death from a heroin overdose at a mere 27 years of age.

From The Daily Beast

The opening bluff in this game has already been called—the economy will not implode next week due to the sequester cuts.

From The Daily Beast

It seemed possible that Iraq would implode and take the whole region down with it.

From The Daily Beast

The Tea Party would prefer “burn baby burn,” for the rotten edifice to implode so that a new one can be built in its place.

From The Daily Beast

The Oops Heard Round the World Ever wanted to see a presidential candidacy implode on live TV?

From The Daily Beast

Technically, they did not explode but implode, but the hood with the revolver did not notice the difference.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cave in
• fall down