collapse

1 of 2

verb

col·​lapse kə-ˈlaps How to pronounce collapse (audio)
collapsed; collapsing

intransitive verb

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
3
: 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

transitive verb

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
2
: condense
collapse several stories into one

collapse

2 of 2

noun

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 canvasRudyard Kipling
3
: a sudden failure : breakdown, ruin
the collapse of the government
4
: a sudden loss of force, value, or effect
the collapse of respect for ancient law and customL. S. B. Leakey

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The Democrats’ best hope may be that Trump’s minuscule battleground state leads will collapse on contact with the fearsome Harris turnout machine. W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Nov. 2024 It was reported that a man was trapped under a tractor after a bridge collapsed on the property, which was in unincorporated Woodstock. Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Because Beijing for two years did little or nothing to mitigate the effects, these financial failures brought a collapse in home buying and the sharp decline in real estate values already noted. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 For the ancient creatures, collapse could have been triggered by many causes. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for collapse 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of collapse was in 1620

Dictionary Entries Near collapse

Cite this Entry

“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collapse. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

collapse

1 of 2 verb
col·​lapse kə-ˈlaps How to pronounce collapse (audio)
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
collapsible adjective

collapse

2 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of collapsing : breakdown

Medical Definition

collapse

1 of 2 verb
col·​lapse kə-ˈlaps How to pronounce collapse (audio)
collapsed; collapsing

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

: to cause to collapse
collapsing an infected lung
collapsibility noun
collapsible adjective

collapse

2 of 2 noun
1
: a breakdown in vital energy, strength, or stamina : complete sudden enervation
the daughter's mental collapse through mounting frustrationLeslie Rees
2
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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