Collapse — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /kə-ˈlaps/ col·lapse

Meaning & Definition of Collapse

Collapse (verb)

  1. to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely, fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure
  2. to break down completely, disintegrate
  3. to cave or fall in or give way

Collapse (noun)

  1. a breakdown in vital energy, strength, or stamina
  2. a state of extreme prostration and physical depression (as from circulatory failure or great loss of body fluids)
  3. an airless state of all or part of a lung originating spontaneously or induced surgically

Collapse (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

    "the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people"

    similar: buckle, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out, implode, tumble, yield, give way
    related: deflate, flatten, melt, melt down, break, break down, conk (out), crash, die, fail, give out, stall, burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split, crack, crumble, pop, snap
    near: inflate, rise, swell

  2. to be unsuccessful

    "the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence"

    similar: bomb, crater, fail, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, founder, miss, strike out, tank, wash out, come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short, lay an egg
    related: flounder, struggle, decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane, crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire, go under, implode, self-destruct
    opposite: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
    near: cook, flourish, prosper, thrive, prevail, triumph, win

  3. to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together

    "the novel collapses events from four separate trips into one long odyssey"

    similar: capsule, capsulize, compact, compress, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescope
    related: cram, crowd, jam, jam-pack, pack, abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, boil down, downsize, shrink, concentrate, consolidate, simplify, streamline, decrease, diminish, lessen
    opposite: decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch
    near: dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter, distend, inflate, swell

Collapse (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a complete depletion of energy or strength

    "suffered a mental collapse under the strain of studying for his bar exam"

    similar: burnout, exhaustion, fatigue, frazzle, lassitude, prostration, tiredness, weariness
    related: debilitation, debility, disablement, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, infirmity, weakness, overfatigue, languor, lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, slumber, stupor, torpidity, torpor, apathy, inertia, passiveness, passivity
    opposite: refreshment, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, revitalization
    near: bounce, dash, drive, energy, ginger, go, liveliness, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vitality, zing, zip, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, strength, briskness, jauntiness, spiritedness, sprightliness, vivaciousness, vivacity

  2. a falling short of one's goals

    "the complete collapse of the invasion set off a round of finger-pointing and recrimination"

    similar: crash, cropper, defeat, failure, fizzle, nonachievement, nonsuccess
    related: futility, uselessness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, disappointment, letdown, setback
    opposite: accomplishment, achievement, success
    near: victory, win

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Collapse

The most common words with a similar meaning to Collapse:

buckle, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out, implode, tumble, yield, bomb, crater, fail, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, miss, strike out, tank, wash out, capsule, capsulize, compact, compress, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescope, give way, come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Collapse

Words with the opposite meaning of Collapse:

click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out, decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch, refreshment, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, revitalization, accomplishment, achievement, success

Related Words for Collapse

deflate, flatten, melt, melt down, break, break down, conk (out), die, give out, stall, burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split, crack, crumble, pop, snap, flounder, struggle, decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane, miscarry, misfire, go under

Near Antonyms of Collapse

inflate, rise, swell, cook, flourish, prosper, thrive, prevail, triumph, win, dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter, distend, bounce, dash, drive, energy, ginger, liveliness, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vitality

Word Forms of Collapse

Inflections: collapsed, collapsing

Origin & Etymology of Collapse

Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from com- + labi to fall, slide sleep

First known use: 1620t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Collapse

Words & Phrases Containing Collapse

colony collapse disorder, collapse/fall in a heap

Frequently Asked Questions about Collapse

What does "Collapse" mean?

"Collapse" means to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely, fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to fall or shrink together abruptly and completely, fall into a jumbled or flattened mass through the force of external pressure. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Collapse"?

Other words for "Collapse" include buckle, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out and implode. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Collapse" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Collapse"?

There are 145 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Collapse". Common alternatives include buckle, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out, implode, tumble and yield.

What is the opposite of "Collapse"?

Antonyms of "Collapse" include click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed and work out. Near antonyms include inflate, rise, swell and cook.

How do you use "Collapse" in a sentence?

Examples of "Collapse" in a sentence: "the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people"; "the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence"; "the novel collapses events from four separate trips into one long odyssey".

Is "Collapse" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Collapse" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Collapse" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Collapse" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Collapse"?

"Collapse" is pronounced /kə-ˈlaps/ and divided into syllables as col·lapse.