WordGarden.iocollapse
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /kəlˈæps/
US
- /kəˈlæps/
Meanings
Verb
to fall down, cave in, or give way suddenly
to fail suddenly or stop functioning as an organization, system, plan, or economy
to suddenly become too weak or ill to stand or continue
More meaningsFewer meanings
to fold, compress, or hide something into a smaller form
Noun
an event in which something falls down, caves in, or gives way
a sudden failure or breakdown of a system, business, economy, or plan
Beyond the definition
Imagine a beautifully built sandcastle on the beach. A big wave comes along and collapses it – it falls into a heap, losing its shape and structure. That's one way to think about collapse! It means something gives way, often suddenly and dramatically.
A building can collapse during an earthquake, but things aren't always so physical. Your energy might collapse after a long day, or a deal can collapse if the people involved can't agree. Sometimes it also describes a person fainting—their body collapses from exhaustion or illness. Think of it as something losing its ability to hold itself up, whether literally or figuratively.
To collapse means to fall down suddenly and completely; to break down or fail unexpectedly. It can describe the physical destruction of something like a building or bridge – "The old barn collapsed after years of neglect." But "collapse" isn't limited to tangible things.
It frequently describes a failure in plans, negotiations, or systems. "The peace talks collapsed due to ongoing violence" means they failed and came to an end. It can also refer to a person's physical or emotional state. "She collapsed from exhaustion after running the marathon," or "He collapsed under the weight of his grief."
Interestingly, "collapse" can also be used as a noun. A "system collapse" refers to a complete breakdown of order or function within a complex system. Think about an ecological collapse where an ecosystem fails due to environmental factors.
The word comes from the Latin collapsus, meaning "fallen together." It carries a sense of suddenness and often, finality. Whether it's a structure crumbling, a deal falling through, or someone losing consciousness, "collapse" signifies a loss of stability and a descent into disorder. So next time you see something fall apart – literally or figuratively – remember the power of this word to capture that dramatic moment of breakdown.
Examples
- 1
Structural failure
Part of the bridge collapsed after days of heavy rain.
- 2
Medical emergency
She collapsed in the street, and an ambulance arrived within minutes.
- 3
Exhaustion
After the 14-hour shift, I collapsed into bed without dinner.
- Phrasecollapse into bed
lie down heavily because you are extremely tired
- 4
Business failure
The small airline collapsed during the pandemic.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Failed talks
Negotiations collapsed after both sides refused to compromise.
- Patterntalks/negotiations collapse
fail suddenly without agreement
- 6
Under pressure
He always sounds confident, but he tends to collapse under pressure.
- Patterncollapse under + pressure/stress
stop coping well because it is too much
- 7
Sharp decrease
There was a sudden collapse in demand after the price increase.
- Patterna collapse in + demand/price/support
a sudden large fall
See also
Similar
- fall down
- cave in
- give way
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- stand
- hold up
Used with (collocations)
- the roof collapsed
- a building collapses
- collapse under the weight
- collapse into rubble
Word family
Explore
- structural failure
- demolition
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- collapsenounverb
Forms
- collapsedpast tenseverbnoun
- collapsing-ing formverbnoun
- collapsespluralnounverb