collapseverb
uk/kəˈlæps/us/kəˈlæps/collapse verb (FALL)
B2 [ I ] to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support:
B2 [ I ] If someone collapses, they fall down because of being sick or weak:
[ I or T ] to fold something into a smaller shape, usually so it can be stored, or (especially of furniture) to fold in this way:
More examples
- It looks as if the whole political edifice of the country is about to collapse.
- I should think you're about ready to collapse after all that walking.
- The building's foundations are rather shaky, and it could collapse at any time.
- At the end of the race his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ground.
- The woman staggered and collapsed in a heap.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Falling and dropping
- ass
- ass over teakettle idiom
- collapse/fall in a heap idiom
- cropper
- crumple
- drop
- drop like flies idiom
- drop sb/sth off
- fly
- hit the deck idiom
- let go idiom
- nosedive
- overbalance
- parachutist
- plunge
- pratfall
- put sth/sb down
- shower
- stumble
- wayside
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
collapse verb (FAIL)
C2 [ I ] (of people and business) to suddenly be unable to continue or work correctly:
More examples
- The company is staggering under a $15 million debt and will almost certainly collapse by the end of the year.
- Things have gone badly for him since his business collapsed.
- All charges against them were withdrawn after the prosecution's case collapsed.
- The talks have collapsed and both sides have resorted to brinkmanship.
- She'd invested extensively in stocks and got her fingers burned when the market collapsed.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Failing and doing badly
- at-risk
- backbencher
- balls-up
- be running on empty idiom
- beat a dead horse idiom
- crack
- crash
- draw
- fail
- fall apart
- flunk out
- fray around/at the edges idiom
- fumble
- get off on the right/wrong foot idiom
- give up on sb/sth
- screw (sth) up
- sink like a stone idiom 1
- sink like a stone
- so much for sth idiom
- stagnate
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
collapsenoun
uk/kəˈlæps/us/kəˈlæps/collapse noun (FAILURE)
B2 [ C or U ] the sudden failure of a system, organization, business, etc.:
More examples
- The collapse of the company was described as the greatest financial debacle in US history.
- The collapse of Communism changed East-West relations for ever.
- The company is on the edge of collapse.
- The collapse of its rivals brought fortuitous gains to the company.
- The collapse of the bank is an ominous reminder of the fragility of the world's banking system.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Failures
- a dog's breakfast idiom
- another/the final nail in the coffin idiom
- breakdown
- car crash
- cock-up
- dead duck
- foul-up
- free fall
- hash
- lemon
- loser
- lost cause
- lulu
- mess-up
- parody
- slim pickings
- slush pile
- track record
- train wreck
- turkey
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collapse noun (FALL)
[ S or U ] the sudden falling movement of a person or structure that has become too weak to stand:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Falling and dropping
- ass
- ass over teakettle idiom
- collapse/fall in a heap idiom
- cropper
- crumple
- drop
- drop like flies idiom
- drop sb/sth off
- fly
- hit the deck idiom
- let go idiom
- nosedive
- overbalance
- parachutist
- plunge
- pratfall
- put sth/sb down
- shower
- stumble
- wayside
See more results »