fall apart

phrase

1

: disintegrate

The pie was falling apart as I served it.

2

: to succumb to mental or emotional stress : break down

She began to fall apart when her son was imprisoned.

Examples of fall apart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Russells have been fully accepted by society but are falling apart as a family. — Alice Burton, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026

The Chiefs went three-and-out on their first drive Sunday against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, and the third play fell apart at the start. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Nov. 2026

As the church falls apart, its demolition imminent, the work acts as an acknowledgment of the life that exists within materials, of how intention and attention can come together to bring out the sense of meaning inherent to a place. — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Planning a solo getaway but your suitcase is ready to fall apart at any moment? — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fall apart

• counterpart
• art
• cart
• carte
• chart
• dart
• fart
• haart
• mart
• part
• smart
• start