explode

verb

ex·​plode ik-ˈsplōd How to pronounce explode (audio)
exploded; exploding

intransitive verb

1
: to burst forth with sudden violence or noise from internal energy: such as
a
: to undergo a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction with the production of noise, heat, and violent expansion of gases
dynamite explodes
b
: to burst violently as a result of pressure from within
2
a
: to give forth a sudden strong and noisy outburst of emotion
exploded in anger
b
: to move with sudden speed and force
exploded from the starting gate
3
: to increase rapidly
the population of the city exploded
4
: to suggest an explosion (as in appearance or effect)
shrubs exploded with blossoms

transitive verb

1
: to cause to explode or burst noisily
explode a bomb
2
: to bring into disrepute or discredit
explode a theory
3
archaic : to drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
exploder noun

Did you know?

Theatergoers in ancient Rome could be noisy in showing both their enjoyment and their dislike of a performance. One of the ways they made noise was by clapping their hands loudly. The Latin verb plaudere meant “to make a noise by loud clapping.” When Romans were showing their approval of a performance, the word used was applaudere, from which we get our English word applaud. When Romans did not like a performance, they often drove the performer from the stage by loud claps. The word for this was explodere or explaudere, from the prefix ex-, meaning “out, away,” and plaudere. From this word we get our English word explode. At first, explode meant “to drive from the stage by a noisy expression of dislike,” but this sense has all but disappeared.

Examples of explode in a Sentence

One of the shells failed to explode. These occasional skirmishes may soon explode into all-out war. The birds suddenly exploded into flight. The building exploded in flames. She looked like she was ready to explode with anger.
Recent Examples on the Web With every post, Bell said, his phone exploded with texts from friends asking if he’s been hacked and mocking the scammer’s posts. Jordan P. Hickey, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Blending gothic atmosphere and ghastly horror, the film is full of unforgettable images: The witch Aja (Steele) being tortured before she’s burned at the stake; an undead sorcerer digging himself out of his grave; Aja’s tomb exploding with the power of her rage. Katie Rife, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024 In 2019, America was doing great in terms of measles vaccination—across the country, 95.2 percent of kindergartners were getting immunized, according to the CDC—and yet, in spite of this fantastic progress, measles cases were exploding. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Gibbons was and remains closely associated with the Art Deco movement that exploded in the 1920s and 1930s, at a time when America was experiencing a Great Depression, but was drawn to opulence. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Such questions exploded from Reddit threads and tabloid pages to mainstream news outlets last month when William cited personal matters as his reason for missing the funeral of his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece. Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 The last administration enacted a $2 Trillion tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits the very wealthy and the biggest corporations and exploded the federal deficit. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 The first goal of the night was a microcosm of Mbappé’s skillset – exploding down the left side of the pitch before bamboozling his defender with some quick feet before lashing it across goal into the bottom corner in the 15th minute. Ben Morse, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The founder of cybersecurity company Second Front Systems, Dixon exploded onto the political scene, pulling in nearly $2.8 million by Feb. 14, though half of that came from his own pocketbook. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explode.' 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

Latin explodere to drive off the stage by clapping, from ex- + plaudere to clap

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of explode was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near explode

Cite this Entry

“Explode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explode. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

explode

verb
ex·​plode ik-ˈsplōd How to pronounce explode (audio)
exploded; exploding
1
: to cause to be given up or rejected
science has exploded many old theories
2
a
: to burst or cause to burst with violence and noise
the boiler exploded
b
: to go through a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction with the production of noise, heat, and violent expansion of gases
the bomb exploded
3
: to burst forth
exploded with laughter
zoomed out of the alley and exploded into the street
Etymology

from Latin explaudere "to drive off the stage by clapping," from ex- "out, away" and plaudere "to clap" — related to applaud, plaudit, plausible see Word History at plausible

Word Origin
Theatergoers in ancient Rome could be noisy in showing both their enjoyment and their dislike of a performance. One of the ways they made noise was by clapping their hands loudly. The Latin verb plaudere meant "to make a noise by loud clapping." When the Romans were showing their approval of a performance, the word used was applaudere, from which we get our English word applaud. When the Romans did not like a performance, they often drove the performer from the stage by loud claps. The word for this was explaudere, from the prefix ex-, meaning "out, away," and plaudere. It is from this word that we get our English word explode. In the beginning, the English word explode had the meaning "to drive from the stage by a noisy expression of dislike." But this sense has all but disappeared. Other meanings that have either the idea of disapproval or the idea of violent noise have since come into wide use.

Medical Definition

explode

verb
ex·​plode ik-ˈsplōd How to pronounce explode (audio)
exploded; exploding

transitive verb

: to cause to explode or burst noisily
explode a bomb

intransitive verb

: to undergo a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction with the production of noise, heat, and violent expansion of gases

More from Merriam-Webster on explode

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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