detonate

verb

det·​o·​nate ˈde-tᵊn-ˌāt 

ˈde-tə-ˌnāt

detonated; detonating

intransitive verb

: to explode with sudden violence

transitive verb

1

: to cause to detonate

detonate a bomb

compare deflagrate

2

: to set off in a burst of activity : spark

programs that detonated controversies

detonatable

ˈde-tᵊn-ˌā-tə-bəl 

ˈde-tə-ˌnā-

adjective

detonative

ˈde-tᵊn-ˌā-tiv 

ˈde-tə-ˌnā-

adjective

Synonyms

• blow
• blow up
• burst
• crump
• explode
• go off
• pop

Examples of detonate in a Sentence

The first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945.

the bomb detonated with a thunder that could be heard for blocks in all directions

Recent Examples on the Web

On Saturday morning, a bomb was detonated at American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, destroying much of the building, injuring four people and killing the bomber. —Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025

Like many Americans, Dr. Garwin grew concerned when Moscow that summer detonated its first atom bomb. —William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025

In most instances the shotgun blast damages the drone and the target plunges to the ground, in one (at 0:29 in the video) the drone payload detonates spectacularly. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Then a flash-bang grenade detonated in a burst of white in a front room. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French détoner to explode, from Latin detonare to expend thunder, from de- + tonare to thunder — more at thunder entry 1

First Known Use

1729, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for detonate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

detonate

verb

det·​o·​nate ˈdet-ᵊn-ˌāt 

ˈdet-ə-ˌnāt

detonated; detonating

: to explode or cause to explode with sudden violence

detonation

ˌdet-ᵊn-ˈā-shən

ˌdet-ə-ˈnā-

noun