topples; toppled; toppling
1
: to cause (something) to become unsteady and fall
The strong winds toppled many trees.
The earthquake toppled the buildings.
The tree toppled into the river.
—often + overThe pile of books toppled over.
2
a
: to remove (a government or a leader) from power : overthrow
The rebels tried to topple the dictator.
b
US
: to win a victory over (someone or something) in a war, contest, etc.
The team was toppled [=beaten, defeated] in the first round.
The phone company has toppled its local competition.
Cite this Entry
“Topple.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/topple. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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