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

California bank robbery:Man who threatened to detonate bomb during bank robbery killed by police Former school bus driver told child 'elaborate lies' Chick was formerly employed by the bus company, First Student, and was the 8-year-old's school bus driver from about June 2020 until May 2022. —Ian Lenahan, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

Daniel Garcia, 42, was found guilty by a jury of three counts of detonating an explosive device with intent to injure, four counts of possession of an explosive device and one count of evading an officer with willful disregard for people or property., according to San Francisco DA Brooke Jenkins. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024

People near the area were purportedly being told to leave as reports emerged of some buildings in the vicinity of the complex being detonated. —Matt Gutman, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2024

The bombs fell wide and failed to detonate, and Ms. Dugdale and Mr. Gallagher went into hiding to plot their next move. —Clay Risen, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

The charge failed to detonate, and the devices landed without causing injury. —Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024

Lee Jin-man / AP The Associated Press, attributing South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, says that the search was initiated when the country's consulate general in Vancouver, Canada received an email that threatened to detonate the explosion during Wednesday's game. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024

Footage shared on Facebook shows Okaloosa County working with partnering agencies to detonate the all-purpose bombs. —Pilar Arias, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2024

After Future and Metro Boomin unleashed the first of their two collaborative albums, WE DON’T TRUST YOU, social media lit up on Friday (Mar. 22), courtesy of an explosive verse detonated by an elusive Kendrick Lamar. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 22 Mar. 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