crumble

1 of 2

verb

crum·​ble ˈkrəm-bəl 

crumbled; crumbling ˈkrəm-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to break into small pieces

intransitive verb

1

: to fall into small pieces : disintegrate

2

: to break down completely : collapse

marriages crumble

crumble

2 of 2

noun

1

: something crumbled : fine debris

2

: crisp sense 2

Synonyms of crumble

Verb

• deteriorate
• descend
• worsen
• decline

Examples of crumble in a Sentence

Verb

Crumble the cookies into small bits.

The recipe calls for the herbs to be crumbled.

bones so old they had crumbled to dust

She was extremely depressed after her marriage crumbled.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The club and regional government have both had different design and financing ideas for modernising the crumbling Vallecas stadium. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Feta is delicious crumbled over pasta and rice dishes, in barley salads, or with couscous, spelt, and quinoa. — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026

Noun

Sweet peaches and shrimp are served with buttermilk dressing, bottarga, fresh herbs and cornbread crumbles at Staplehouse. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026

While the coffee shop focuses on classic coffee flavors, its menu also offers sweet latte flavors such as the customer favorite banana cream, as well as butter beer, French toast, honey, lemon meringue and blueberry crumble. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English kremelen, frequentative of Old English gecrymian to crumble, from cruma

First Known Use

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for crumble

• bumble
• fumble
• grumble
• humble
• jumble
• mumble
• rumble
• stumble
• tumble
• umbel

Kids Definition

crumble

verb

crum·​ble

ˈkrəm-bəl

crumbled; crumbling

-b(ə-)liŋ

1

: to break into small pieces

crumble bread

2

: to fall into ruin

relationships crumble