Synonyms

trapdoor

American

[trap-dawr, -dohr] / ˈtræpˈdɔr, -ˈdoʊr /

Or trap door

noun

a door flush with the surface of a floor, ceiling, or roof.
the opening that it covers.

adjective

of, relating to, or like a trapdoor.

Etymology

Origin of trapdoor

First recorded in 1325–75, trapdoor is from Middle English trappe dore. See trap ¹, door

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The park, which closed in late December, contains games and rides that reference past MrBeast videos, such as a trapdoor tower and catapults.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

The Jags will just have to focus on victory though, as they could suffer a big trapdoor fall if they suffer an upset defeat with Houston waiting in the wings.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

"There are now four known species of trapdoor spiders in California that live exclusively in coastal dune habitats," said corresponding author Emma Jochim, a doctoral student in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025

She knows the location of the hidden trapdoor that leads to the rafters of the arch above the nave.

From New York Times • May 6, 2024

Nyame raised an eyebrow and I walked toward the trapdoor.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023