Meaning & use
explode
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To burst apart suddenly with great force and a loud noise, as a bomb does.
Grammar: No object: the bomb exploded.
Patterns
- explode in something
The fireworks exploded high above the harbor.
A gas pipe exploded in the factory.
The tire exploded with a loud bang.
verbtransitive
To make something burst with force or set off a bomb.
Grammar: Takes an object: they exploded the device.
Patterns
- explode something
Engineers exploded the old chimney to clear the site.
The soldiers exploded the bridge to stop the advance.
Experts safely exploded the device in a field.
verbintransitivefigurative
To suddenly show strong feeling, especially anger, in a loud outburst.
Grammar: No object; often followed by with or into: explode with anger.
Patterns
- explode with something
- explode into something
He exploded with rage when he saw the damage.
The crowd exploded into cheers at the final whistle.
My sister exploded when I borrowed her laptop.
verbintransitivefigurative
To increase very quickly in number or size.
Grammar: No object; used for numbers and populations.
Patterns
- explode in popularity
The city's population exploded in the 1990s.
Sales exploded after the ad went viral.
Interest in cooking shows exploded during the winter.
verbtransitiveformal
To prove that a belief or theory is false.
Grammar: Takes an object such as a myth or theory.
Patterns
- explode a myth
The study exploded the myth that goldfish forget in seconds.
New evidence exploded the theory.
The documentary exploded several popular legends.
Word forms
| third person singular | explodes |
|---|---|
| past tense | exploded |
| past participle | exploded |
| -ing form | exploding |
Common combinations
- explode with anger
- She exploded with anger when the plan changed.
- explode into life
- The engine exploded into life.
- explode a myth
- Scientists exploded the myth of the five-second rule.
- explode in popularity
- The game exploded in popularity last summer.
- a bomb explodes
- A bomb exploded near the station.
- explode into laughter
- The class exploded into laughter.
Synonyms and how they differ
- blow up
- Blow up is the common, informal phrasal verb and can be used for both bombs and tempers.
- burst
- Burst describes a container breaking open, often without the violence of an explosion.
- erupt
- Erupt is used for volcanoes and outbursts and suggests something that rises from below.
- detonate
- Detonate is a technical word meaning to set off a bomb deliberately.
Opposites
Word family
- explosion noun
- a sudden violent burst
- explosive adjective
- likely to explode, or very sudden and strong
- explosive noun
- a substance that can explode
- explosively adverb
- in a sudden and powerful way
Commonly confused: explode or implode? explode or explore?
explode vs implode
Implode means to collapse inward, while explode means to burst outward.
explode vs explore
Explore means to travel through or investigate something, and has nothing to do with bursting.
Practice
After months of silence, the argument finally ____ at the family dinner.
Choose one answer.
Exploded works figuratively for a sudden outburst of anger. Imploded means collapsed inward and does not fit an argument, while explored and expired change the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “explode”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.