crashed; crashing; crashes
1
a
: to break violently and noisily : smash
b
: to damage (an airplane) in landing
2
a
: to cause to make a loud noise
crash the cymbals together
b
: to force (one's way) through with loud crashing noises
3
: to enter or attend without invitation or without paying
crash the party
4
: to move toward aggressively (as in fighting for a rebound)
basketball players crashing the boards
5
: to cause (a computer system, component, or program) to crash
1
a
: to break or go to pieces with or as if with violence and noise
b
: to fall, land, or hit with destructive force
c
: to decline suddenly and steeply
d
of a computer system, component, or program
: to suffer a sudden major failure usually with attendant loss of data
2
: to make a smashing noise
thunder crashing overhead
3
: to move or force one's way with or as if with a crash
crashes into the room
4
slang
: to experience the aftereffects (such as fatigue, irritability, headache, or depression) of a physiologically or psychologically active substance
Prolonged use of cocaine—repeatedly cycles of euphoria, crashing, and craving—probably brings about changes in the postsynaptic neurons …—
Robert Wilbur
Robert WilburCrashing from a sugar high never helped anyone remain awake all night.—Justin Rocket Silverman
Justin Rocket Silverman5
informal
a
: to go to bed or fall asleep
b
: to lose energy : to become very fatigued
It happens every afternoon like clockwork … I'm crashing, my body says. I need salt. Sugar. Fat. Now.—James Oseland
James Oseland
crasher
noun
1
: a loud sound (as of things smashing)
a crash of thunder
2
a
: a breaking to pieces by or as if by collision
b
: an instance of crashing
a plane crash
a system crash
3
: a sudden decline (as of a population) or failure (as of a business)
a stock market crash
4
informal
: the sudden, powerful occurrence of adverse aftereffects (such as fatigue, irritability, headache, or depression) following the use of a physiologically or psychologically active substance
… the jitters, euphoria and eventual crash that come after caffeine or amphetamines.—Graham Lawton
Graham LawtonWhen it comes to snacks, bars can have a nutritional edge over candy. Many are lower in fat and sugars. And some bars might be less likely to cause sugar rushes followed by crashes.—Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
: marked by a concerted effort and effected in the shortest possible time especially to meet emergency conditions
a crash renovation program
: a coarse fabric used for draperies, toweling, and clothing and for strengthening joints of cased-in books
Synonyms
Examples of crash in a Sentence
Verb
She crashed the car into a tree, but no one was hurt.
He has crashed two cars, a truck, and a motorcycle.
We listened to the waves crashing against the shore.
The stuntman crashed through the window on a motorcycle.
The walls crashed down around them.
The books crashed to the floor.
The cymbals crashed and the trumpets blew.
Thunder crashed as the rain started to pour.
He crashed the cymbals together.
Recent Examples on the WebKate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Sometime within the next 50 million years, the moon is expected to either crash into Mars or break up into a planetary ring like Saturn's.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
In the evening, perhaps enjoy a simple pizza at a restaurant with a view of the waves crashing on the shoreline.
—Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
Stars that orbit closer to the black hole within 0.01 parsecs most likely will crash and keep going only losing their outer layers.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
When a 53-foot fish tanker truck crashed and rolled upside down on an embankment next to a creek in northeast Oregon, its driver suffered only minor injuries.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
In February, Ford customers crashed the automaker's computer system in their rush to get a free charging adapter for the Tesla fast-charging network.
—Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Medina was tracked down and apprehended on Tuesday after leading deputies, police and state troopers on a high-speed chase before crashing.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
Officials were turning Wednesday toward a key salvage operation that has implications for the port of Baltimore - removal of the massive wreckage left after a cargo ship hit Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge and sent it crashing into the river.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 7 Nov. 2023
The crash scene of the Lockerbie bombing, from left; 1988, and 2018.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2022
Paltrow's attorneys have disputed the extent of Sanderson's injuries and post-crash disorientation, but both sides say the collision resulted in Sanderson's four broken ribs and a concussion.
—Sam Metz, ajc, 28 Mar. 2023
Paltrow's attorneys questioned whether Grasham and neuropsychologist Dr. Alina Fong could say with certainty that Sanderson's downturn wasn't a result of aging or documented, pre-crash conditions.
—Sam Metz, ajc, 24 Mar. 2023
Keeps you focused with no post-crash drowsiness.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022
The five-page report also said investigators found no apparent pre-crash mechanical or airframe problems in the plane's remains.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2023
Soon, the connected car could possibly help during such post-crash situations.
—Steve Tengler, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022
This allowed for a post-crash resumption of the decadeslong bull market in bonds that continued right up to the pandemic.
—Red Jahncke, WSJ, 16 May 2022
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
De Luis's sister Graziella died in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in 2019.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Richtung South Cedar Creek Parkway A traffic warning has been issued after a crash on K-10 between Kill Creek Road and South Cedar Creek Parkway.
—Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Details on the circumstances of the crash were not released.
—Mona Darwish, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
The Freightliner and Peterbilt drivers were not injured in the crash.
—The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024
Boeing has been struggling financially for five years, since fatal crashes of its 737 Max in late 2018 and early 2019 resulted in a 20-month grounding of its best-selling plane.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
The crash of the Dali container ship into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month killed six workers and demolished the structure.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Maryland Governor Wes Moore told a news conference that a section of the bridge's steel superstructure north of the crash site would be cut into a piece that could be lifted by crane onto a barge and brought to the nearby Tradepoint Atlantic site at Sparrows Point.
—David Lawder, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
Towering trees, crashing waves Trinidad is just a half hour south of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, one of the four parks that make up Redwood National and State Parks.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Sometime within the next 50 million years, the moon is expected to either crash into Mars or break up into a planetary ring like Saturn's.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
In the evening, perhaps enjoy a simple pizza at a restaurant with a view of the waves crashing on the shoreline.
—Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
Stars that orbit closer to the black hole within 0.01 parsecs most likely will crash and keep going only losing their outer layers.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
When a 53-foot fish tanker truck crashed and rolled upside down on an embankment next to a creek in northeast Oregon, its driver suffered only minor injuries.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
In February, Ford customers crashed the automaker's computer system in their rush to get a free charging adapter for the Tesla fast-charging network.
—Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Medina was tracked down and apprehended on Tuesday after leading deputies, police and state troopers on a high-speed chase before crashing.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
Officials were turning Wednesday toward a key salvage operation that has implications for the port of Baltimore - removal of the massive wreckage left after a cargo ship hit Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge and sent it crashing into the river.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
It's called crash history alerts, and it's meant to warn drivers about dangerous hotspots, based on a combination of historical data plus road and traffic data.
—Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 7 Nov. 2023
The crash scene of the Lockerbie bombing, from left; 1988, and 2018.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2022
Paltrow's attorneys have disputed the extent of Sanderson's injuries and post-crash disorientation, but both sides say the collision resulted in Sanderson's four broken ribs and a concussion.
—Sam Metz, ajc, 28 Mar. 2023
Paltrow's attorneys questioned whether Grasham and neuropsychologist Dr. Alina Fong could say with certainty that Sanderson's downturn wasn't a result of aging or documented, pre-crash conditions.
—Sam Metz, ajc, 24 Mar. 2023
Keeps you focused with no post-crash drowsiness.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022
The five-page report also said investigators found no apparent pre-crash mechanical or airframe problems in the plane's remains.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2023
Soon, the connected car could possibly help during such post-crash situations.
—Steve Tengler, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2022
This allowed for a post-crash resumption of the decadeslong bull market in bonds that continued right up to the pandemic.
—Red Jahncke, WSJ, 16 May 2022
Noun
Dispatchers received a call around 7 a.m. of the crash on Cool Valley Road east of Cole Grand Road, according to Officer Hunter Gerber.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
De Luis's sister Graziella died in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in 2019.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Richtung South Cedar Creek Parkway A traffic warning has been issued after a crash on K-10 between Kill Creek Road and South Cedar Creek Parkway.
—Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Details on the circumstances of the crash were not released.
—Mona Darwish, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
The Freightliner and Peterbilt drivers were not injured in the crash.
—The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024
Boeing has been struggling financially for five years, since fatal crashes of its 737 Max in late 2018 and early 2019 resulted in a 20-month grounding of its best-selling plane.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
The crash of the Dali container ship into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month killed six workers and demolished the structure.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Maryland Governor Wes Moore told a news conference that a section of the bridge's steel superstructure north of the crash site would be cut into a piece that could be lifted by crane onto a barge and brought to the nearby Tradepoint Atlantic site at Sparrows Point.
—David Lawder, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English crasschen
Noun (2)
probably from Russian krashenina colored linen
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1945, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1812, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of crash was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing crash
Articles Related to crash
Dictionary Entries Near crash
Cite this Entry
“Crash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crash. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
crash
1 of 4 verb1
a
: to break with violence and much noise : smash
b
: to damage (an airplane) in landing
2
a
: to make or cause to make a loud noise
crash cymbals together
waves crashing on the shore
b
: to move or force a way roughly or with loud crashing noises
we went crashing through the underbrush
3
: to enter or attend without an invitation or without paying
crash a party
tried to crash the gates
4
: to go bad or go out of order suddenly
the computer system crashed
5
slang
: to go to bed or fall asleep
also
: to stay for a short time
crashing with friends for the week
crasher
noun
crash
3 of 4 adjective
: designed to do what it is supposed to do in a big hurry
a crash program
went on a crash diet
crash
4 of 4 noun
: a coarse fabric used for draperies and clothing
Etymology
Verb
Middle English crasschen "crash"
Noun
probably from Russian krashenina "colored linen"
More from Merriam-Webster on crash
Nglish: Translation of crash for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of crash for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crash
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