explode

explode — verb

1. to burst apart suddenly with a loud noise and great force, scattering pieces out

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to burst apart suddenly with a loud noise and great force, scattering pieces outward, or to make something burst apart in this way

Example

The army exploded the old bomb in a large empty field far from the town.

transitive: explode + bomb/device as object

A small gas leak made the whole kitchen explode, shattering every window.

intransitive: describes what bursts open

Common collocations
  • explode a bomb
  • explode a device
  • explode violently
  • explode with a bang
Synonyms
  • burst

    less violent and can be from internal or external pressure, e.g. a balloon or pipe

  • blow up

    more informal; usually about intentional destruction

  • detonate

    more technical; specifically describes triggering an explosive device

Antonyms
  • implode

    to burst inward instead of outward

Grammar Patterns

explode (intransitive: the thing bursts)

explode + object (transitive: cause to burst)

Usage Note

Intransitive use describes what the thing itself does (The bomb exploded); transitive use describes who or what causes it (The army exploded the bomb). Can refer to bombs, gas, engines, fireworks, volcanoes, and other things that burst from internal force.

Common Mistakes

The window exploded when the ball hit it.
The window shattered when the ball hit it.
Explode is for things that burst from internal pressure, not for glass breaking from an external force.

2. to show a strong feeling, especially anger or excitement, in a loud and sudden w

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to show a strong feeling, especially anger or excitement, in a loud and sudden way that others notice

Example

When Reema saw the broken window, she exploded with anger at the children.

explode with + emotion, at + person

Hugo exploded at his teammate after the mistake cost them the match.

explode at + person (target of anger)

Common collocations
  • explode with anger
  • explode at someone
  • explode in fury
  • explode with laughter
Synonyms
  • erupt

    very similar; often used for anger or violence

  • lose one's temper

    only for anger, not for laughter or cheers

  • burst out

    informal; common with laughter or crying

Antonyms
  • stay calm

    opposite of losing emotional control

Grammar Patterns

explode at + person

explode with/in + emotion

explode into + action

Usage Note

Typically followed by at to show the target of anger, by with to name the emotion (with anger, with laughter), or by in followed by a noun (in cheers, in fury). The subject is usually a person or a group (crowd, audience).

Common Mistakes

She exploded him after he lied.
She exploded at him after he lied.
The person you are angry at must follow the preposition at, not appear as a direct object.

3. to grow or rise at an extremely fast and often uncontrolled rate, especially in

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to grow or rise at an extremely fast and often uncontrolled rate, especially in number, size, or amount

Example

The number of smartphone users exploded in the last ten years.

subject: number of + noun + explode

House prices in the city exploded after the new station was built.

subject: prices + explode

Common collocations
  • population explodes
  • sales explode
  • prices explode
  • demand explodes
  • explode in popularity
Synonyms
  • skyrocket

    informal; vivid image of numbers shooting upward

  • surge

    sudden increase, but less extreme than explode

  • boom

    rapid growth, often used for economic activity

Antonyms
  • plummet

    to fall sharply, opposite of rapid increase

  • decline

    to decrease, opposite of growth

Grammar Patterns

explode + adverb (population/sales/demand + explode)

explode + in/by + amount

Usage Note

Common subjects include population, prices, demand, sales, and number. The verb is always intransitive in this sense — you cannot use it transitively (*The company exploded its sales). Often followed by in (exploded in popularity) or by (exploded by 50%).

Common Mistakes

The company exploded its sales last year.
The company's sales exploded last year.
In this sense, explode is always intransitive; the thing that grows is the subject, not the object.

4. to prove that a widely held belief, theory, or idea is false or incorrect

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to prove that a widely held belief, theory, or idea is false or incorrect

Example

The latest study has exploded the old belief that eggs are bad for the heart.

object: belief + that-clause

The journalist wrote a report that exploded several common ideas about the disease.

Common collocations
  • explode a myth
  • explode a theory
  • explode a belief
  • explode a claim
Synonyms
  • debunk

    the closest synonym; specifically for revealing a belief as false

  • disprove

    more general; can be used for any false claim

  • refute

    more formal; to prove something wrong by argument or evidence

Antonyms
  • confirm

    to prove that something is true

  • validate

    to support with evidence, opposite of disproving

Grammar Patterns

explode + noun phrase (myth/belief/theory/idea/claim)

Usage Note

The object must be an abstract concept — a belief, myth, theory, idea, or claim — not a person or physical object. Common in journalism, academic writing, and investigative reports.

Common Mistakes

The teacher exploded the student's answer.
The teacher showed that the student's answer was wrong.
Explode is used with widespread beliefs or theories, not with individual statements in a classroom.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Burst, blow up, and detonate all describe things breaking apart, but with different force levels and contexts. Burst is the mildest — a balloon bursts, a pipe bursts from water pressure, but you would not say a bomb bursts. Blow up is more informal and usually implies intentional destruction (They blew up the old bridge). Detonate is technical and precise, used for bombs or explosives triggered by a mechanism (The bomb squad detonated the suspicious device). Explode covers the widest range, from a bomb to a gas leak to a firework, and can be both transitive and intransitive. For example: 'The balloon burst' (too mild for explode), 'The army detonated the mine' (more formal/technical), 'They blew up the shed' (informal).

burst ↗blow up ↗detonate

Common collocations

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from Latin 'explodere', which meant 'to drive an actor off the stage by clapping loudly'. It was made from 'ex-' (out) and 'plaudere' (to clap or applaud). In the 1700s, the meaning shifted from 'drive out with noise' to 'burst with a loud noise', likely because both ideas involve a sudden, forceful release.