collapsed; collapsing
1
: to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure
a blood vessel that collapsed
2
: to break down completely : disintegrate
… his case had collapsed in a mass of legal wreckage …—
Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner3
: to cave or fall in or give way
The bridge collapsed.
4
: to suddenly lose force, significance, effectiveness, or worth
fears that the currency may collapse
5
: to break down in vital energy, stamina, or self-control through exhaustion or disease
I came home from work and collapsed on the sofa.
especially
: to fall helpless or unconscious
The performer collapsed on stage.
6
: to fold down into a more compact shape
a chair that collapses
a collapsing golf club that can fit into a travel bag
1
: to cause to collapse
buildings collapsed by an earthquake
He knelt for a long time, first watching the bay below, then collapsing the spyglass and settling his hands on his legs in a thoughtful pose.—Heather Dunboine
Heather Dunboine2
: condense
collapse several stories into one
1
a
: a breakdown in vital energy, strength, or stamina
suffered a mental collapse
b
: a state of extreme prostration and physical depression (as from circulatory failure or great loss of body fluids)
c
: an airless state of all or part of a lung originating spontaneously or induced surgically
2
: the act or action of collapsing
… the cutting of many tent ropes, the collapse of the canvas …—Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling4
: a sudden loss of force, value, or effect
… the collapse of respect for ancient law and custom …—L. S. B. Leakey
L. S. B. LeakeyExamples of collapse in a Sentence
Verb
The roof collapsed under a heavy load of snow.
The chair he was sitting in collapsed.
He collapsed on stage during the performance and had to be rushed to the hospital.
She came home from work and collapsed on the sofa.
The crying child ran to his mother and collapsed in her arms.
The civilization collapsed for reasons that are still unknown.
He warned that such measures could cause the economy to collapse.
Noun
The structure is in danger of collapse.
She was on the verge of collapse.
The country has endured civil war and economic collapse.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Any strong fluctuation in the density of the material making up the universe at that point could create a small overdense region, a small pocket of extra matter, which could then collapse to form what’s called a primordial black hole (or PBH).
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Katz acknowledges that his original company’s collapse resulted in a chaotic transition.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collapse
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Verb
The team had the best record in the major leagues as recently as June 13 of last season before collapsing and missing the postseason — a collapse that still stings for fans.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Any strong fluctuation in the density of the material making up the universe at that point could create a small overdense region, a small pocket of extra matter, which could then collapse to form what’s called a primordial black hole (or PBH).
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Bulls have been careening toward this turning point in the season since the trade deadline, which kickstarted a 5-16 collapse as the front office (temporarily) gave up on the postseason.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Katz acknowledges that his original company’s collapse resulted in a chaotic transition.
—Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collapse. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
collapse
1 of 2 verb
col·lapse
kə-ˈlaps 
collapsed; collapsing
1
: to fall or shrink together abruptly
a blood vessel that collapsed
2
: to break down completely
the opponent's resistance collapsed
3
: to cave or fall in or give way
the tunnel collapsed
4
: to suddenly lose value or effectiveness
the country's currency collapsed
5
: to break down physically or mentally because of exhaustion or disease
6
: to fold together
a chair that collapses
collapse
2 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of collapsing : breakdown
Medical Definition
collapse
1 of 2 verb
col·lapse
kə-ˈlaps
collapsed; collapsing
1
: to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure
a blood vessel that collapsed
2
: to break down in vital energy, stamina, or self-control through exhaustion or disease
especially
: to fall helpless or unconscious
: to cause to collapse
collapsing an infected lung
collapse
2 of 2 noun1
: a breakdown in vital energy, strength, or stamina : complete sudden enervation
the daughter's mental collapse through mounting frustration—Leslie Rees
Leslie Rees2
: a state of extreme prostration and physical depression resulting from circulatory failure, great loss of body fluids, or heart disease and occurring terminally in diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and pneumonia
3
: an airless state of a lung of spontaneous origin or induced surgically see atelectasis
4
: an abnormal falling together of the walls of an organ
collapse of blood vessels
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