collapse

[kəˈlæps]

collapse Definition

• 1. to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support
• 2. to fail suddenly and completely
• 3. to break down emotionally

Using collapse: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "collapse" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The building collapsed after the earthquake.

• Example

  The company's stock price collapsed after the scandal.

• Example

  She collapsed from exhaustion after running the marathon.

• Example

  He collapsed in tears after hearing the news.

collapse Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for collapse

• fall
• crumble
• fail
• give way
• break down

Antonyms for collapse

• succeed
• thrive

Idioms Using collapse

• go down like a house of cards

  to fail quickly and completely

  Example

  The company's plans went down like a house of cards when the investors pulled out.

• fall apart at the seams

  to fail or break down completely

  Example

  The project fell apart at the seams when the team members couldn't agree on a direction.

• come crashing down

  to fail or end suddenly and dramatically

  Example

  Her dreams of becoming an actress came crashing down when she didn't get the part.

Phrases with collapse

• mental collapse

  a sudden and severe breakdown in a person's mental health

  Example

  The stress of the job led to his mental collapse.

• economic collapse

  a sudden and severe decline in the economy of a country or region

  Example

  The Great Depression was a period of economic collapse in the United States.

• structural collapse

  the failure of a building or other structure due to damage or weakness

  Example

  The structural collapse of the bridge caused several fatalities.

Origins of collapse

from Latin 'collapsus', past participle of 'collabi', meaning 'fall together'

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Summary: collapse in Brief

The verb 'collapse' [kəˈlæps] means to fall down suddenly due to pressure, lack of strength or support, or to fail suddenly and completely. It can also refer to breaking down emotionally. Examples include 'The building collapsed after the earthquake.' and 'She collapsed from exhaustion after running the marathon.' Phrases like 'mental collapse' and idioms like 'go down like a house of cards' further illustrate the concept of sudden failure.