verb

collapse

kuh-LAPS

verb

To fall down or cave in suddenly.

"The old bridge collapsed under the weight of the truck."

"Part of the roof collapsed during the storm."

To fail suddenly and completely.

"The negotiations collapsed after both sides refused to compromise."

"The company collapsed into bankruptcy within a year."

To suddenly fall to the ground, typically from exhaustion, illness, or fainting.

"He collapsed on the finish line after the marathon."

To fold something into a smaller, more compact shape.

"The stroller collapses flat for easy storage."

How to Use Collapse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFalling down suddenly, whether it's a building, a plan, a business, or a person.

Common pairings

collapse under pressure economic collapse collapse into a chair

collapsed past tense, collapses singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The old bridge _____ under the weight of the truck.

From Latin collapsus, the past participle of collabor, meaning "to fall together".

lapse relapse