crack-up

\ ˈkrak-ˌəp

How to pronounce crack-up (audio)

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Definition of crack-up

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : crash, wreck an automobile crack-up

2a : a mental collapse : nervous breakdown his wife's death brought on his crack-up

b : collapse, breakdown

crack up

cracked up; cracking up; cracks up

Definition of crack up (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : praise, tout sense 1 wasn't all that it was cracked up to be

2 : to damage or destroy (a vehicle) by crashing crack up a car

3 : to cause to laugh out loud that joke really cracks him up

intransitive verb

1 : to damage or destroy a vehicle (as by losing control) cracked up on a curve

2 : to laugh out loud

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about crack-up

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Examples of crack-up in a Sentence

Verb that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Brent had cracked up so hard that Pop had to drag him out of the sanctuary. — Tiphanie Yanique, The New Yorker, "God’s Caravan," 28 Oct. 2019 People across the country are cracking up over an Illinois couple’s failed attempt to recreate an Oregon couple’s elegant engagement photo showing the future groom gracefully pouring champagne into his future bride’s mouth. — oregonlive, "Elegant champagne photo of engaged Oregon couple leads to comical fail when Illinois couple tries same thing," 25 Oct. 2019 Miller, now a Carolina Panther, was in town and returned the favor and cracked up Lewis on Saturday night. — Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, "The interesting or funny things Alabama football players said this week," 24 Oct. 2019 Meghan was seen cracking up during the performance, even wiping away tears brought on by laughter. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, "See the Pre-Baby Photo Meghan Markle Chose as a Thank-You Note for Her Birthday Well-Wishers," 5 Sep. 2019 The Good Boys actor appeared on The Tonight Show‘s Monday episode and cracked up host Jimmy Fallon with his big-boy talk. — Nick Romano, EW.com, "Jacob Tremblay cracks up Jimmy Fallon with impressions, overall cuteness," 6 Aug. 2019 But the running game wasn't anything near what it was cracked up to be in coordinator Darrell Bevell's debut as play caller. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions stock watch: T.J. Hockenson shines, run game sputters," 9 Sep. 2019 This frog’s croak sounded a lot like someone breaking wind, causing her to crack up. — Alice Rudge, Quartz, "Why we laugh when we know we shouldn’t," 28 Aug. 2019 Every time one of them does this, the other guy cracks up. — Neil Swidey, BostonGlobe.com, "We’re afraid of sharks. But maybe we’re not afraid enough.," 9 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crack-up.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Time Traveler for crack-up

The first known use of crack-up was in 1829

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