Meaning & use
toppling
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“toppling” is a form of “topple”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Falling over, or making something fall over, because it becomes unbalanced or is pushed.
Grammar: Intransitive: the tower is toppling. Transitive: the wind is toppling trees.
Patterns
- toppling over
- toppling something
The stack of boxes was toppling over, so I caught it.
Strong winds were toppling fences across the village.
The toddler stood up, wobbled and began toppling backward.
verbtransitivefigurative
Removing a leader, government or business from power, often suddenly and by force or pressure.
Grammar: Takes an object: toppling a government.
Patterns
- toppling a government
- toppling a leader
The protests succeeded in toppling the unpopular president.
Rumors of fraud were toppling the company's reputation.
The scandal ended up toppling three ministers.
noununcountable
The act of falling over or being removed from a position of power.
Grammar: Often followed by of: the toppling of the statue.
Patterns
- the toppling of something
The toppling of the old statue drew a huge crowd.
Analysts discussed the sudden toppling of the regime.
The toppling of the tower caused no injuries.
Word forms
| base form | topple |
|---|---|
| third person | topples |
| past | toppled |
Common combinations
- toppling a regime
- The coup succeeded in toppling the regime.
- toppling over
- The vase was toppling over when she grabbed it.
- toppling a leader
- Rebels spent months toppling a long-ruling leader.
- the toppling of a statue
- The toppling of the statue became a symbol of change.
- toppling prices
- A glut of supply was toppling prices.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overthrowing
- Overthrowing is used almost only for removing governments or rulers, while toppling also fits objects that fall.
- upending
- Upending means turning something upside down or disrupting it, whereas toppling stresses falling from a high or unstable position.
- capsizing
- Capsizing is used for boats turning over, while toppling is for tall or top-heavy things.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: toppling or toppling?
toppling vs toppling
Do not confuse with topping, which means putting something on top of food or being higher than something.
Practice
Which sentence uses toppling in its political sense?
Choose one answer.
Toppling a government means removing it from power. The first two use the physical meaning, and the last confuses toppling with topping.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “toppling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.