collapsed; collapsing
1
: to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure
a blood vessel that collapsed
2
: to break down completely : disintegrate
… his case had collapsed in a mass of legal wreckage …—
Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner3
: to cave or fall in or give way
The bridge collapsed.
4
: to suddenly lose force, significance, effectiveness, or worth
fears that the currency may collapse
5
: to break down in vital energy, stamina, or self-control through exhaustion or disease
She came home from work and collapsed on the sofa.
especially
: to fall helpless or unconscious
He collapsed on stage during the performance.
6
: to fold down into a more compact shape
a chair that collapses
a collapsing golf club that can fit into a travel bag
1
: to cause to collapse
buildings collapsed by an earthquake
He knelt for a long time, first watching the bay below, then collapsing the spyglass and settling his hands on his legs in a thoughtful pose.—Heather Dunboine
Heather Dunboine2
: condense
collapse several stories into one
1
a
: a breakdown in vital energy, strength, or stamina
suffered a mental collapse
b
: a state of extreme prostration and physical depression (as from circulatory failure or great loss of body fluids)
c
: an airless state of all or part of a lung originating spontaneously or induced surgically
2
: the act or action of collapsing
the cutting of many tent ropes, the collapse of the canvas—Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling4
: a sudden loss of force, value, or effect
the collapse of respect for ancient law and custom—L. S. B. Leakey
L. S. B. Leakey
Synonyms
Examples of collapse in a Sentence
Verb
The roof collapsed under a heavy load of snow.
The chair he was sitting in collapsed.
He collapsed on stage during the performance and had to be rushed to the hospital.
She came home from work and collapsed on the sofa.
The crying child ran to his mother and collapsed in her arms.
The civilization collapsed for reasons that are still unknown.
He warned that such measures could cause the economy to collapse.
Noun
The structure is in danger of collapse.
She was on the verge of collapse.
The country has endured civil war and economic collapse.
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Recent Examples on the WebBecky Krystal, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
China’s Hidden Century is the new exhibition at the British Museum considering history and culture in China from, roughly, 1796, when the Qing dynasty ruled over one-third of all humanity to 1912, when imperial rule collapsed.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 23 Sep. 2023
Variety reported at the time that a number of contestants — who were not paid for their participation in the series — collapsed on set from a combination of cold and fatigue.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
And when you’re done traveling, the suitcase collapses into itself to store it at about half the size, which is ideal for travelers living in small apartments.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023
By the end of the track, V gives all the performers a thumbs-up for a job well done and jokingly collapses into his seat.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023
Lebanon’s economic meltdown, brought on when the government defaulted on its foreign debt and the currency collapsed, triggered months of protests demanding deep political reforms and accountability from corrupt sectarian elites.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
The collapsing commitment to offices is proving to be highly disruptive for cities.
—Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
This week, during the matches in New York, a fan collapsed in the stands from the 100-degree heat index.
—Marek Makowski, The New Republic, 9 Sep. 2023
Krystal Hur, CNN, 26 Sep. 2023
This is part of a three-part Heard on the Street series on the 25th anniversary of Long-Term Capital Management’s collapse.
—Telis Demos, WSJ, 25 Sep. 2023
Before the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried led a heady life.
—Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023
Macron had relied on Niger as an ally with a growing role following the collapse of relations with Mali.
—Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
Despite alarm bells, economists say China is likely not on the verge of collapse, but this could be a turning point.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2023
Until the collapse of FTX in November, FTX Europe was the only firm to offer a popular form of crypto derivates called perpetual futures, or perps, to the European market, thanks to a key Cypriot regulatory license.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 22 Sep. 2023
Headline of the day: House Republicans' government funding bill is now at risk of collapse
The leaders of the House GOP's ultraconservative wing who negotiated the deal are frustrated that other ultraconservatives say the bill is too weak and want to kill it.
—Mark Murray, NBC News, 19 Sep. 2023
Well, because the logical step – .if this plea agreement, if the gun part of that plea agreement, collapses – is to challenge the underlying law.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2023
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Verb
Similarly, warm cake may collapse or crumble and feel soggy as well.
—Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
China’s Hidden Century is the new exhibition at the British Museum considering history and culture in China from, roughly, 1796, when the Qing dynasty ruled over one-third of all humanity to 1912, when imperial rule collapsed.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 23 Sep. 2023
Variety reported at the time that a number of contestants — who were not paid for their participation in the series — collapsed on set from a combination of cold and fatigue.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
And when you’re done traveling, the suitcase collapses into itself to store it at about half the size, which is ideal for travelers living in small apartments.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023
By the end of the track, V gives all the performers a thumbs-up for a job well done and jokingly collapses into his seat.
—Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023
Lebanon’s economic meltdown, brought on when the government defaulted on its foreign debt and the currency collapsed, triggered months of protests demanding deep political reforms and accountability from corrupt sectarian elites.
—Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2023
The collapsing commitment to offices is proving to be highly disruptive for cities.
—Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
This week, during the matches in New York, a fan collapsed in the stands from the 100-degree heat index.
—Marek Makowski, The New Republic, 9 Sep. 2023
Noun
That marks the index’s lowest level since March, when the collapses of regional lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank roiled financial markets.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 26 Sep. 2023
This is part of a three-part Heard on the Street series on the 25th anniversary of Long-Term Capital Management’s collapse.
—Telis Demos, WSJ, 25 Sep. 2023
Before the collapse of FTX, Bankman-Fried led a heady life.
—Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023
Macron had relied on Niger as an ally with a growing role following the collapse of relations with Mali.
—Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
Despite alarm bells, economists say China is likely not on the verge of collapse, but this could be a turning point.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2023
Until the collapse of FTX in November, FTX Europe was the only firm to offer a popular form of crypto derivates called perpetual futures, or perps, to the European market, thanks to a key Cypriot regulatory license.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 22 Sep. 2023
Headline of the day: House Republicans' government funding bill is now at risk of collapse
The leaders of the House GOP's ultraconservative wing who negotiated the deal are frustrated that other ultraconservatives say the bill is too weak and want to kill it.
—Mark Murray, NBC News, 19 Sep. 2023
Well, because the logical step – .if this plea agreement, if the gun part of that plea agreement, collapses – is to challenge the underlying law.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'collapse.' 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
Verb and Noun
Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from com- + labi to fall, slide — more at sleep
First Known Use
Verb
1620, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing collapse
Dictionary Entries Near collapse
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collapse. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
collapse
1 of 2 verb
col·lapse
kə-ˈlaps 
collapsed; collapsing
1
: to fall or shrink together abruptly
a blood vessel that collapsed
2
: to break down completely
the opponent's resistance collapsed
3
: to cave or fall in or give way
the tunnel collapsed
4
: to suddenly lose value or effectiveness
the country's currency collapsed
5
: to break down physically or mentally because of exhaustion or disease
6
: to fold together
a chair that collapses
collapse
2 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of collapsing : breakdown
Medical Definition
collapse
1 of 2 verb
col·lapse
kə-ˈlaps
collapsed; collapsing
1
: to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely : fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure
a blood vessel that collapsed
2
: to break down in vital energy, stamina, or self-control through exhaustion or disease
especially
: to fall helpless or unconscious
: to cause to collapse
collapsing an infected lung
collapse
2 of 2 noun1
: a breakdown in vital energy, strength, or stamina : complete sudden enervation
the daughter's mental collapse through mounting frustration—Leslie Rees
Leslie Rees2
: a state of extreme prostration and physical depression resulting from circulatory failure, great loss of body fluids, or heart disease and occurring terminally in diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and pneumonia
3
: an airless state of a lung of spontaneous origin or induced surgically see atelectasis
4
: an abnormal falling together of the walls of an organ
collapse of blood vessels
More from Merriam-Webster on collapse
Nglish: Translation of collapse for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of collapse for Arabic Speakers
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