crumble

1 of 2

verb

crum·​ble ˈkrəm-bəl How to pronounce crumble (audio)
crumbled; crumbling ˈkrəm-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce crumble (audio)

transitive verb

: to break into small pieces

intransitive verb

1
: to fall into small pieces : disintegrate
2
: to break down completely : collapse
marriages crumble

crumble

2 of 2

noun

1
: something crumbled : fine debris
2

Examples of crumble in a Sentence

Verb Crumble the cookies into small bits. The recipe calls for the herbs to be crumbled. bones so old they had crumbled to dust She was extremely depressed after her marriage crumbled.
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
Impossible to answer because even near-perfect baseball teams can crumble in October. Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 But the attitude of the Romanian mercenaries — always scanning the road, murmuring into radios — gave it away: Congo’s defenses were crumbling. Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Mack & Jack: a jalapeno brisket hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese, a crispy cornbread crumble, hot honey and green onions. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2025 Desserts are similarly imaginative, offering up the Lost Ark Shortbread, a vanilla, caramel, candied lemon, and almond crumble fit for Indiana Jones, and a sweet blueberry, vanilla, and Timut berry (an ingredient from Nepal similar to Sichuan berries) inspired by Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crumble

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English kremelen, frequentative of Old English gecrymian to crumble, from cruma

First Known Use

Verb

1547, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crumble was in 1547

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumble. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

crumble

verb
crum·​ble
ˈkrəm-bəl
crumbled; crumbling
-b(ə-)liŋ
1
: to break into small pieces
crumble bread
2
: to fall into ruin
relationships crumble

More from Merriam-Webster on crumble

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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