explosion

noun

ex·​plo·​sion ik-ˈsplō-zhən 

1

: the act or an instance of exploding

injured in a laboratory explosion

2

: a large-scale, rapid, or spectacular expansion or bursting out or forth

the explosion of suburbia

an explosion of red hair

3

: the release of occluded breath that occurs in one kind of articulation of stop consonants

Synonyms

• blast
• blowup
• burst
• bursting
• detonation
• eruption
• outburst

Examples of explosion in a Sentence

The filmmakers staged the car's explosion.

The island was rocked by a series of volcanic explosions.

The region has experienced a population explosion.

His comments prompted an explosion of laughter from the crowd.

Recent Examples on the Web

This isn’t a new phenomenon - as far back as 2013, a fake report of explosions at the White House caused the S&P 500 to lose $130 billion in market capitalization within minutes. —Hec Paris Insights, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Although initially estimated in 1959 to generate a blast equivalent to six megatons of TNT, the device yielded a 15 megaton explosion—allegedly the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated by the US. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Jan. 2025

One year ago, a massive explosion at a downtown Fort Worth hotel shattered the chilly afternoon calm just as the workday came to a close. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2025

Fire is well established in a large metal structure with multiple explosions. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin explosion-, explosio act of driving off by clapping, from explodere

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing explosion

• population explosion

Kids Definition

explosion

noun

ex·​plo·​sion ik-ˈsplō-zhən 

1

: the act or an instance of exploding

2

: a violent outburst of feeling

Medical Definition

explosion

noun

ex·​plo·​sion ik-ˈsplō-zhən 

: the act or an instance of exploding