Crack — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈkrak/

Meaning & Definition of Crack

Crack (verb)

  1. to make a very sharp explosive sound
  2. to break, split, or snap apart
  3. fail

Crack (noun)

  1. a loud roll or peal
  2. a sudden sharp noise
  3. a sharp witty remark, quip

Crack (adjective)

  1. of superior excellence or ability

Crack (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to break suddenly with an explosive sound

    "the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight"

    similar: pop, snap
    related: rend, rive, split, crackle, hiss, sizzle, sputter, burst, explode, shatter, clack, clatter, click

  2. to yield to mental or emotional stress

    "after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession"

    similar: break down, break up, flip (out) (slang), freak (out), melt down, wig (out) (slang), blow one's cool, fall apart, go off the deep end, go to pieces, lose it
    related: choke

  3. to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language

    "the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it"

    similar: break, decipher, decode, decrypt
    related: descramble, unscramble, render, translate, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out
    opposite: cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt
    near: garble, jumble (up), mix (up)

  4. to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner

    "cracked the bow of the ship with a champagne bottle"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, swipe, tag, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, zap, hang one on
    related: batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, lace, lambaste, lick, mangle, maul, pelt, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt, flick, stroke, tap, bump, butt, jab, jostle, kick, knee, poke, prod, push, shove, stamp, bowl (down or over), cream, deck, dump (slang), fell, floor, knock down, level, rabbit-punch, sucker punch, cane, club, cudgel, flail, flog, lash, sap, slash, sledge, sledgehammer, spear, stab, switch, thrash, whip, bean, brain, conk, skull

  5. to find an answer for through reasoning

    "I've been mulling this riddle, but I just can't crack it"

    similar: answer, break, dope (out), figure out, puzzle (out), resolve, riddle (out), solve, unravel, unriddle, work, work out
    related: conclude, decide, deduce, gather, infer, judge, reason, clear (up), iron out, straighten (out), unscramble, untangle, untie, assume, conjecture, divine, guess, presume, speculate, decipher, decode

  6. to cause to go insane or as if insane

    "cracked by years in solitary confinement, the prisoner could only maunder incoherently"

    similar: craze, derange, frenzy, loco, madden, unbalance, unhinge, unstring
    related: agitate, bother, confuse, discompose, disquiet, distract, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, annoy, irritate, vex
    near: calm, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize

Crack (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure

    "a pebble struck the car's windshield and left a spidery crack in it"

    similar: check, chink, cleft, cranny, crevice, fissure, rift, split
    related: crevasse, craze, hairline, fracture, rupture, breach, gap, opening, cut, gash, incision, slit

  2. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "a disciplinary crack on the hand with a ruler was once common in schoolrooms"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

  3. a loud explosive sound

    "the tree fell with a sharp crack"

    similar: bang, blast, boom, clap, crash, pop, report, slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, whump
    related: thunk, wham, clang, clangor, clank, clash, knock, rap, tap, blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar

  4. an effort to do or accomplish something

    "this is my first crack at painting"

    similar: assay (archaic), attempt, bash (chiefly British), bid, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl
    related: striving, struggle, throes, undertaking, trial and error

  5. something said or done to cause laughter

    "a whispered crack made the whole back row start laughing"

    similar: boff, boffola, drollery, funny, gag, giggle (chiefly British), jape, jest, joke, josh, laugh, nifty, one-liner, pleasantry, quip, rib, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism, yuk (slang)
    related: funning, joking, wisecracking, knee-slapper, panic (slang), riot, scream, thigh-slapper, antic, buffoonery, caper, leg-pull, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, prank, trick, burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mock, mockery, parody, put-on, riff, banter, kidding, persiflage, raillery, repartee, drollness, facetiousness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness, comedy, humor, wit, wordplay

  6. a person of odd or whimsical habits

    "that conspiracy theorist has been labeled a crack by the ballistics experts"

    similar: character, codger, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, eccentric, flake, fruitcake, head case, kook, loon, loony, nut, nutcase, nutter (British slang), oddball, oddity, original, quiz, screwball, wacko, weirdo, zany, odd duck, piece of work
    related: bohemian, maverick, nonconformist, quixote, coot, geezer, curio, rarity, freak, fantast, fantastico
    near: conformer, conformist, follower, sheep

Crack (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor

    "known as one of the college's crack tennis players"

    similar: accomplished, ace, adept, compleat, complete, consummate, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced, professed, proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso
    related: adroit, clever, deft, dexterous, handy, slick, sure-handed, gifted, talented, polished, refined, effective, effectual, efficient, workmanlike, able, capable, competent, employable, fit, fitted, habile, qualified, knowledgeable, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, all-around, well-rounded, long-term, old, multiskilled, multitalented
    opposite: amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful
    near: incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak, artless, crude, rude, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, talentless, ungifted, untalented, ignorant, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, beginning, green, inexperienced, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, primitive, rough, unpolished, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed

Related Entry: Crack (on) (verb)

Crack (on) is a different word from Crack. The synonyms below are for crack (on), not for crack.

  1. to proceed or move quickly

    "the postman cracked on in an effort to get the mail delivered on time"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Related Entry: Crack down (on) (verb)

Crack down (on) is a different word from Crack. The synonyms below are for crack down (on), not for crack.

  1. to put a stop to (something) by the use of force

    "a repressive government that cracked down on political demonstrations"

    similar: clamp down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress, sit on
    related: douse, extinguish, put out, quench, smother, stifle, strangle, throttle, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck, exterminate, obliterate, wipe out, conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subjugate, vanquish
    near: abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support, foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

Related Entry: Crack-up (noun)

Crack-up is a different word from Crack. The synonyms below are for crack-up, not for crack.

  1. a mental or nervous collapse

    "a crack-up required him to take a year off from work"

    similar: breakdown, nervous breakdown, tailspin
    related: frazzle, freak-out, meltdown, alarm, anxiety, apprehension, disquiet, excitability, nervousness, disturbance, agitation, discomposure, perturbation, basket case
    near: aplomb, calmness, composure, coolness, imperturbability, placidity, self-possession, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness

  2. the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact

    "two people were injured in a serious crack-up on the interstate"

    similar: collision, concussion, crash, smash, smashup, wreck
    related: accident, pileup, demolishment, destruction, ruin

Related Entry: Crack up (verb)

Crack up is a different word from Crack. The synonyms below are for crack up, not for crack.

  1. to declare enthusiastic approval of

    "that sports car isn't all it's cracked up to be"

    similar: acclaim, accredit, applaud, cheer, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, doff one's hat to
    related: bravo, clap, rise (to), ballyhoo, approve, commend, endorse, favor, recommend, root (for), support, celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol, glorify, magnify, sing, adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise, deify, idolize
    opposite: knock, pan, slam
    near: belittle, discommend, disparage, put down, blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate, admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste, skewer, slag (chiefly British), vilify

  2. to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively

    "the movie is being cracked up as the blockbuster of the summer"

    similar: ballyhoo, blow up, cry up, glorify, tout, trumpet, tub-thump
    related: acclaim, applaud, extol, laud, magnify, commend, compliment, eulogize, advance, advertise, announce, blare, blaze, blazon, boost, herald, offer, plug, promote, publicize, assert, aver, claim, declare, lay down, make out, proclaim, pronounce

  3. to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound

    "try not to crack up at your own punch lines—it's funnier if you keep a straight face"

    similar: break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, hee-haw, laugh, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter, split one's sides
    related: grin, smile
    near: bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep, howl, squall, wail, yowl, bleat, pule, whimper, whine, sniffle, snivel, groan, moan, sigh

Related Entry: Crack wise (phrase)

Crack wise is a different word from Crack. The synonyms below are for crack wise, not for crack.

  1. to make jokes

    "She's just cracking wise with the kids."

    similar: banter, chaff, fool, fun, gag, jape, jest, jive, joke, jolly, josh, kid, quip, wisecrack, yuk (slang)
    related: gibe, haze, jeer, mock, rag, rally, razz, rib, ridicule, tease, caricature, lampoon, parody, satirize, amuse, divert, entertain

Related Entry: Crack-ups (noun)

Crack-ups is a different word from Crack. The synonyms below are for crack-ups, not for crack.

  1. a mental or nervous collapse

    "a crack-up required him to take a year off from work"

    similar: breakdowns, nervous breakdowns, tailspins
    related: frazzles, freak-outs, meltdowns, alarms, anxieties, apprehensions, disquiets, excitabilities, disturbances, agitations, discomposures, perturbations, basket cases
    near: aplombs, composures, imperturbabilities, placidities, self-possessions, serenities, tranquilities

  2. the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact

    "two people were injured in a serious crack-up on the interstate"

    similar: collisions, concussions, crashes, smashes, smashups, wrecks
    related: accidents, pileups, demolishments, destructions, ruins

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Crack

The most common words with a similar meaning to Crack:

Slang: flip (out), wig (out), yuk
Chiefly British: bash, giggle
British: douse
Dialect: larrup
Archaic: assay
British slang: nutter
pop, snap, break down, break up, freak (out), melt down, break, decipher, decode, decrypt, bang, bat, belt, biff, bludgeon, bob, bonk, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clock, clout, hammer, hit, knock, nail, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slog, slug, smack, smite, sock

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Crack

Words with the opposite meaning of Crack:

cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt, amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful

Related Words for Crack

rend, rive, crackle, hiss, sizzle, sputter, burst, explode, shatter, clack, clatter, click, choke, descramble, unscramble, render, translate, batter, bung, drub, lace, lambaste, mangle, maul, pepper, pommel, pummel, rough, scuff, bunt

Near Antonyms of Crack

garble, jumble (up), mix (up), calm, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize, conformer, conformist, follower, sheep, incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak, artless, crude, rude, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, talentless, ungifted, untalented

Word Forms of Crack

Inflections: cracked, cracking, cracks

Origin & Etymology of Crack

Middle English crakken, from Old English cracian; akin to Old High German chrahhōn to resound

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Crack

Words & Phrases Containing Crack

crack baby, crack down, crack house, crack the whip, crack-up, crack up, crack wise

Frequently Asked Questions about Crack

What does "Crack" mean?

"Crack" means to make a very sharp explosive sound. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to make a very sharp explosive sound. It has 13 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Crack"?

Other words for "Crack" include pop, snap, break down, break up, flip (out), freak (out), melt down and wig (out). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Crack" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Crack"?

There are 455 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Crack". Common alternatives include pop, snap, break down, break up, flip (out), freak (out), melt down, wig (out), break and decipher.

What is a slang word for "Crack"?

Slang words for "Crack" include flip (out), wig (out), yuk and nutter.

What is the opposite of "Crack"?

Antonyms of "Crack" include cipher, code, encipher, encode, encrypt, amateur, amateurish and inexperienced. Near antonyms include garble, jumble (up), mix (up) and calm.

How do you use "Crack" in a sentence?

Examples of "Crack" in a sentence: "the tree branch unexpectedly cracked under our weight"; "after hours of tough questioning the suspect finally cracked and blurted out a confession"; "the United States military used the Navajo language as a code during World War II, and the enemy never cracked it".

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

"Crack" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

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

As a B2-level word, "Crack" 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+.