implosion

noun

im·​plo·​sion im-ˈplō-zhən How to pronounce implosion (audio)
1
: the action of imploding
2
: the act or action of bringing to or as if to a center
also : integration
this implosion of cultures makes realistic for the first time the age-old vision of a world culture Kenneth Keniston
3
: the inrush of air in forming a suction stop
implosive adjective or noun

Examples of implosion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then when last year's implosion happened – killing the vessel's overseer and captain – there were concerns that nobody would trust such expeditions again. Li Cohen, CBS News, 29 May 2024 Image But there were early signs that the NFT market was crashing — a spectacular implosion that would shine a spotlight on the government’s failure to regulate the art market. Zachary Small, New York Times, 18 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for implosion 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'implosion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

in- entry 2 + -plosion (as in explosion)

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of implosion was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near implosion

Cite this Entry

“Implosion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implosion. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

implosion

noun
im·​plo·​sion im-ˈplō-zhən How to pronounce implosion (audio)
: the action of imploding
implosive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on implosion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!