crack-up

noun

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\ ˈkrak-ˌəp

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

verb

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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Synonyms & Antonyms for crack-up

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Verb

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 Remembering the moment when one of the world’s best basketball players wanted to chat about his wine amid the heat of battle still makes McCollum crack up. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2021 As Kate McKinnon’s hammy psychic looked Adele’s character in the eye and spoke of a future inexplicably filled with adult coloring books, Adele appeared to be biting her tongue so as to not crack up. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2020 An extra hour of sunlight isn't all it's cracked up to be. — Channing King, Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2020 Jimmy Kimmel’s hosting antics The comedian was his charming and hilarious self while hosting in 2016, cracking up the crowd with his jokes and also bringing some of his own stunts to the stage. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE.com, 16 Sep. 2019 During downtime, Daisy May cracked up the crew with a hypochondriacal riff about an unprintable physical sensation in her bowels. — David Segal, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2020 SureID replaced Larson as CEO in May 2017, as the business was cracking up. — oregonlive, 14 Jan. 2020 Ever since England and Wales voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, while Scotland and Northern Ireland did the exact opposite, the sides have worried or wondered when the union might crack up over Brexit. — Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2019 To crack up the emotions up just a notch weaved in between concert footage, BTS incorporates a scenic story in traditional animation that draws on the original song’s message. — Sara Delgado, Teen Vogue, 18 Oct. 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.