topple

verb

top·​ple ˈtä-pəl 

toppled; toppling ˈtä-p(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to fall from or as if from being top-heavy

transitive verb

1

: to cause to topple

2

a

: overthrow sense 2

topple a dictator

b

: defeat sense 1

Synonyms of topple

• fall
• stumble
• trip
• slip
• tumble

Examples of topple in a Sentence

The strong winds toppled many trees.

The earthquake toppled the buildings.

The tree toppled into the river.

The rebels tried to topple the dictator.

The phone company has toppled its local competition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some taller flowering plants produce sturdy stems that usually hold their blooms upright, but strong winds and heavy rains can topple even those stalwart stems. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026

Launch-control starts summon an improbable 1,139 hp, toppling previous Porsche kings such as the hybrid 918 Spyder or the recent Taycan GT Turbo. — Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 15 July 2026

Plant Is Top Heavy If your plant keeps toppling over, the container is too small for the amount of above-soil growth and should be moved to a larger pot. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 July 2026

The grizzly, with the dogs pursuing, had already toppled over. — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

frequentative of top entry 3

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for topple

• estoppel
• popple

Kids Definition

topple

verb

top·​ple ˈtäp-əl 

toppled; toppling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to fall over from being too heavy at the top

2

: to push over