verb

explode

ihk-SPLOHD

verb

To burst apart suddenly and violently, often with a loud noise.

"The old boiler exploded, shattering windows nearby."

"Fireworks exploded over the harbor at midnight."

To suddenly express strong emotion, especially anger.

"He exploded with rage when he saw the bill."

To increase suddenly and dramatically.

"Sales exploded after the product went viral online."

How to Use Explode

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo burst violently, to suddenly lose your temper, or to increase very rapidly.

Common pairings

explode with anger a bomb exploded demand exploded

Word Forms

exploded past tense, explode plural, exploded plural, explodes singular, explode singular, exploded singular, explodest singular, explodedst singular, explodeth singular

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The old boiler _____, shattering windows nearby.

Etymology

From Latin explodere, "to drive off the stage by clapping" — originally a theatre term for booing a bad actor off, later shifting to mean "burst violently" by the 1880s.

Synonyms

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asplode blast blow blow up burst detonate displode dynamite fulminate go off let off nuke

Antonyms

implode

Related Words

blow break burst hit punish bang punch explosion

Rhymes for explode

ode rode code mode bode node lode abode erode Rhode Goode decode

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