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Meaning & use

collapse

verb, noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/kəˈlæps/
US/kəˈlæps/

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    To fall down suddenly because of weakness or damage, usually said about a building, structure, or person.

    Grammar: No object: the bridge collapsed.

    Patterns

    • collapse under something
    • collapse from something

    The old roof collapsed under the heavy snow.

    The runner collapsed at the finish line from exhaustion.

    Part of the tunnel collapsed after the earthquake.

  2. verbintransitivefigurative

    To fail completely and stop working, as with a business, a plan, or a system.

    Grammar: No object: the talks collapsed.

    Patterns

    • collapse into something

    The bank collapsed during the financial crisis.

    Peace talks collapsed after only two days.

    Their marriage collapsed under constant strain.

  3. verbtransitive or intransitive

    To fold something so it takes up less room, or to be able to fold in this way.

    Grammar: Both: collapse the stroller, or the stroller collapses.

    Patterns

    • collapse something
    • collapse into something

    She collapsed the tent and packed it into a small bag.

    The table collapses flat for storage.

  4. nouncountable or uncountable

    A sudden fall, breakdown, or failure of a structure, system, or person.

    Grammar: Often followed by of: the collapse of the company.

    Patterns

    • the collapse of something

    The collapse of the bridge shocked the town.

    Doctors blamed the patient's collapse on low blood sugar.

    The economy faced total collapse.

Word forms

third person singularcollapses
past tensecollapsed
past participlecollapsed
-ing formcollapsing
plural nouncollapses

Common combinations

collapse in a heap
He collapsed in a heap on the sofa.
economic collapse
The country faced economic collapse.
on the verge of collapse
The health system is on the verge of collapse.
building collapse
Rescuers searched the site of the building collapse.
collapse under pressure
The team collapsed under pressure.

Synonyms and how they differ

fall
Fall is general and can be gentle, while collapse suggests a sudden, often complete failure.
crumble
Crumble describes a gradual breaking into pieces, whereas collapse is usually quick.
fail
Fail is broader and need not be dramatic, while collapse implies total breakdown.
cave in
Cave in is more informal and used for roofs and ground, or for a person giving in.

Opposites

standthriverecover

Word family

collapsible adjective
able to be folded down
collapsed adjective
fallen down or folded
collapsing adjective
in the process of falling
collapsibility noun
the quality of being collapsible (rare)

Commonly confused: collapse or collaps?

collapse vs collaps

Collaps is a common misspelling; the word ends in -apse.

Practice

Rescuers searched for survivors after the bridge ___ during the flood.

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