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

The explosive did not detonate, but Kamala Harris, then the vice president-elect, had walked within 20 feet of the device, the report said. —Maria Sacchetti Andjacqueline Alemany The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 3 Aug. 2024

Eventually enough will accumulate that the immense gravity will fuse the hydrogen, detonating what is in essence a thermonuclear bomb the size of a planet. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 2 Aug. 2024

The Israeli Mossad assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh by detonating an explosive device planted in advance in his bedroom at the Iranian government official residence in Tehran, two sources with knowledge of the issue confirmed to Axios. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024

The big problem is the possibility that one of the big three nuclear powers will resume detonating nuclear weapons. —Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2024

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

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