collapse Definition
- 1to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support
- 2to fail suddenly and completely
- 3to 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
Idioms Using collapse
Example
The company's plans went down like a house of cards when the investors pulled out.
Example
The project fell apart at the seams when the team members couldn't agree on a direction.
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.
Example
The Great Depression was a period of economic collapse in the United States.
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'
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.
