smashes; smashed; smashing
1
: to break (something) into many pieces : to shatter or destroy (something)
He smashed the vase with a hammer.
The ball smashed the window.
The vase fell and smashed to pieces.
The window smashed [=shattered] when the baseball hit it.
2
a
: to hit (something) violently and very hard
She smashed [=crushed] her finger in the door.
He smashed into the wall.
The car smashed [=crashed] into the rail.
b
: to hit (a ball) downward and very hard in tennis and other games
She smashed the ball deep into the opposite corner.
3
: to destroy or beat (someone or something) easily or completely
We smashed our opponents.
He smashed the world record. [=he broke the world record by a large amount]
4
: to crash (a vehicle)
He smashed his car.
—often + up in U.S. EnglishShe smashed up her new car.
plural smashes
1
: someone or something that is very successful or popular
The new movie is a smash.
She was a smash at the party.
His new song promises to be a smash hit.
2
: the sound made when something hits a surface very violently
The vase fell to the ground with a loud smash.
3
: a hard downward hit in tennis or other games
She hit an overhand smash that won the match.
Cite this Entry
“Smash.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/smash. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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