detonation

noun

det·​o·​na·​tion ˌde-tᵊn-ˈā-shən How to pronounce detonation (audio)
ˌde-tə-ˈnā-
1
: the action or process of detonating
2
: rapid combustion in an internal combustion engine that results in knocking

Examples of detonation in a Sentence

there was a series of detonations around the base of the condemned building, causing it to come crashing down in a matter of minutes
Recent Examples on the Web Sixty-seven American nuclear weapons tests occurred in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958, including Castle Bravo on Bikini Atoll, the largest-ever U.S. nuclear detonation. Tara Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Surprising Fact Putin suggested a hand grenade detonation could have caused a plane carrying Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin—who led a brief rebellion against the Russian government—to crash last year. Ty Roush, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 The International Space Station, which is run jointly by the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada, would also be affected by a nuclear detonation. Shane Harris, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 The report — which was written by the National Explosives Task Force, a multi-agency group that coordinates explosive expertise for law enforcement and intelligence agencies — suggested there was no evidence of a second or remote detonation method, such as a cell phone. Robert Legare, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2024 The military says the innovative weapon will require no test detonations. William J. Broad, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023 On detonation day, cast and crew gathered as pyrotechnicians set up drums of fuel that would be ignited and propelled into the air. Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023 The seat-rattling nuclear weapon detonation masterminded by J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) evokes peak dread, but even seemingly mundane sequences demanded deep dives from King and his team. Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 There was no ribbon cutting or ceremonial dynamite detonation. Melina Mara, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detonation was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near detonation

Cite this Entry

“Detonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detonation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on detonation

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!