smash
smash — verb
1. to make something shatter into many fragments with a loud noise, for instance by
to make something shatter into many fragments with a loud noise, for instance by dropping it or hitting it against a hard surface.
Yumi accidentally smashed the vase when she bumped into the table.
transitive: smash + fragile object
A brick smashed through the window during the storm last night.
intransitive: smash + through + something
João smashed the old plates with a hammer to make mosaic tiles.
Glass smashed everywhere as the earthquake shook the dishes off the shelves.
intransitive: adverb follows to show result
The toddler picked up the ornament and smashed it on the floor.
- smash a window
- smash a vase
- smash a plate
- smash a bottle
- smash a guitar
- smash to pieces
- smash into smithereens
Grammar Patterns
smash + object
smash + into + something
object + smash(es)
Usage Note
Frequently used with a phrase showing result or direction: smashed to pieces, smashed on the ground, smashed through a window. The object is typically something brittle such as glass, pottery, or a mirror.
Common Mistakes
2. to strike or push something against a solid surface with extreme force, which of
to strike or push something against a solid surface with extreme force, which often leads to harm or destruction.
The thief smashed the door open with a heavy metal bar.
smash + object + open (resultative)
Anthony smashed his fist against the wall in anger.
A giant wave smashed the small fishing boat against the rocks.
smash + object + against + something
The firefighter smashed through the wooden fence to rescue the family.
Ezra's car smashed into a tree on the icy mountain road.
intransitive: smash + into + solid object
- smash open
- smash through
- smash into
- smash against
- smash fist
- smash car
Grammar Patterns
smash + object + adverb/preposition
smash + adverb/preposition
Usage Note
A directional adverb or preposition (open, through, into, against) almost always follows. Unlike sense 1, the struck surface does not necessarily break into pieces — the emphasis is on the force of the impact.
Common Mistakes
3. in tennis, volleyball, or badminton, to strike a ball that is high in the air wi
in tennis, volleyball, or badminton, to strike a ball that is high in the air with a hard, downward motion so that the opponent cannot return it.
Mert leapt up and smashed the volleyball over the net for the winning point.
transitive: smash + ball + over + net
The tennis player ran forward and smashed the ball past her opponent.
Gabriel practised his overhead smash for hours before the championship match.
noun form: overhead smash
Saira smashed the shuttlecock down into the far corner of the court.
smash + object + down + preposition phrase
- overhead smash
- smash the ball
- smash a winner
- running smash
- lob
a soft, high shot that goes over the opponent's head
Grammar Patterns
smash + the ball + preposition
Usage Note
The direct object is always a ball or shuttlecock. Unlike sense 2, there is no implication of damage or injury — this describes a legal sports move.
Common Mistakes
4. to defeat an opponent or destroy an opposing group completely, so that they have
to defeat an opponent or destroy an opposing group completely, so that they have no power left.
The army smashed the rebel forces in a decisive three-day battle.
smash + military opponent
Police smashed the drug ring after a year-long undercover investigation.
Our local team smashed the league champions by five goals to nil.
smash + opponent + by + score
Henrik's determination smashed every obstacle that stood in his way.
figurative: smash + abstract obstacle
The new evidence smashed the prosecution's entire case against the defendant.
- smash a drug ring
- smash the opposition
- smash a record
- smash a stereotype
- smash a barrier
- crush
very similar in force, but 'crush' can also suggest gradual pressure
- annihilate
more formal and dramatic, means to destroy completely
- overwhelm
focuses on the opponent being unable to resist due to the scale of force
- lose to
to be defeated by an opponent
Grammar Patterns
smash + opponent / criminal group / obstacle
Usage Note
Often used figuratively with abstract objects such as an argument, a case, a barrier, or a stereotype. The sense implies total, crushing defeat rather than a narrow victory.
Common Mistakes
5. to exceed a previous high score or achievement by a wide margin, particularly in
to exceed a previous high score or achievement by a wide margin, particularly in sports, sales, or entertainment.
The Jamaican sprinter smashed the world record by nearly two-tenths of a second.
smash + the record + by + margin
Shirin smashed her personal best in the hundred-metre breaststroke event.
The new video game smashed all previous sales records within its first week.
smash + all previous records
Yumi smashed her own high score in the final round of the competition.
- smash the record
- smash a personal best
- smash sales records
- smash the world record
Grammar Patterns
smash + a/the record
Usage Note
Almost always used with the noun record as the direct object. The object can be a world record, a personal best, sales records, or a high score. This is distinct from sense 4 because the emphasis is on surpassing a benchmark, not on destroying an opponent.
Common Mistakes
smash down
phrasal verbTo hit something hard so that it falls or breaks.
The firefighters smashed down the door to rescue the family.
Aiden smashed down the old wall with a sledgehammer.
smash in
phrasal verbTo break something by hitting it inward, often causing a hole or dent.
The thief smashed in the car window to steal the bag.
Sara accidentally smashed in the side of the cardboard box.
smash up
phrasal verbTo damage something badly or destroy it by hitting or breaking it.
The kids smashed up the old toys during their playtime.
Brian's car was smashed up in the accident on the highway.
smash it
idiomTo perform extremely well or achieve great success in something.
Maya practiced every day and smashed it at the piano recital.
Did you see Diego's presentation? He really smashed it.
smash — noun
1. the loud noise that is produced when something breaks into pieces.
the loud noise that is produced when something breaks into pieces.
We heard a loud smash coming from the kitchen and ran to see what had fallen.
countable: a smash
The smash of breaking glass woke everyone in the house at midnight.
There was a sudden smash as the old mirror fell off the bathroom wall.
preceded by 'a' + adjective for suddenness
A loud smash echoed through the gallery when the sculpture hit the floor.
- a loud smash
- a sudden smash
- the smash of glass
Grammar Patterns
a/the smash of + noun
Usage Note
Typically used with a or the + of. The noise itself is the focus — the source of the sound is introduced with of (the smash of glass, the smash of a vase).
2. the sound made when one object hits another object with great force.
the sound made when one object hits another object with great force.
The smash of the waves against the cliff could be heard from half a mile away.
the smash of + noun + against + noun
The residents heard the smash of two cars colliding on the wet road outside.
A heavy smash echoed from the garage where boxes had toppled over.
countable: a smash
The smash of furniture being thrown around upstairs worried the neighbours.
the smash of + noun phrase
- the smash of waves
- the smash of cars
- a heavy smash
Grammar Patterns
the smash of + noun + against/into + noun
Usage Note
Often used with a following preposition that shows the two surfaces involved (of ... against, of ... into). Unlike sense 1, the sound comes from a collision rather than the breaking of a single object.
3. a serious accident involving one or more road vehicles or a train.
a serious accident involving one or more road vehicles or a train.
Five cars were involved in a smash on the motorway this morning.
a smash + on + road name
The train smash near the station injured more than forty passengers.
A nasty smash between a bus and a lorry closed the main road for hours.
a smash + between + two vehicles
No one was seriously hurt in the smash, but both cars were badly damaged.
- car smash
- train smash
- motorway smash
- smash on the road
Grammar Patterns
a smash + between + nouns
a smash + on + road
Usage Note
Chiefly British English. In American English, crash or accident is more common. The word focuses on the event as a whole, not just the sound.
Common Mistakes
4. a quick, forceful stroke in tennis, volleyball, or badminton, driving a high bal
a quick, forceful stroke in tennis, volleyball, or badminton, driving a high ball downwards and over the net with great speed.
João won the match with a powerful smash that his opponent could not reach.
adjective + smash as winning shot
The volleyball player's smash was so fast nobody on the other team could return it.
Lien practised her cross-court smash every day until it became completely reliable.
compound noun: cross-court smash
Yan's powerful smash landed deep in the back corner, winning the badminton match.
- powerful smash
- overhead smash
- cross-court smash
- winning smash
- drop shot
a soft hit that barely goes over the net
Grammar Patterns
a smash + preposition + net/court
Usage Note
In tennis, often called an overhead smash. The noun corresponds directly to verb sense 3. Can be modified by adjectives such as powerful, overhead, running, cross-court.
Common Mistakes
5. a song, film, play, or other creative work that is extremely successful and popu
a song, film, play, or other creative work that is extremely successful and popular.
The movie became a huge smash and earned over a billion dollars worldwide.
a + adjective + smash
Her debut album was an instant smash across Europe and Asia.
an instant smash
The Broadway musical was a smash and ran for three consecutive years.
be a smash (idiomatic)
Critics called the play a smash, praising both the acting and the script.
- huge smash
- instant smash
- box-office smash
- smash hit
- hit
the more common and neutral word; 'smash' adds a sense of spectacular success
- blockbuster
primarily for films; suggests very large financial returns
- flop
a total failure in entertainment or business
Grammar Patterns
a smash + hit
be a smash
Usage Note
Nearly always combined with a modifying adjective (huge, instant, commercial, box-office) or used in the fixed expression be a smash. The phrase smash hit is a common emphatic form.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- smashingadjectiveB2
- smashedadjectiveB2
- smashernounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five verbs describe an object being damaged or separated into pieces, but each emphasises a different method or result. 'Break' is the most general and neutral word — you can break a cup, a bone, a promise, or a machine. 'Smash' adds the sense of violent force and loud noise, usually with the object being destroyed intentionally or accidentally. 'Shatter' focuses on the result: the object flies into many small, sharp fragments, as glass does when hit. 'Crush' implies pressing or grinding something until it deforms or becomes powder, not striking it. 'Crack' means a line of damage appears on the surface without the object necessarily falling apart — a cracked phone screen still works, but a smashed one does not. For a learner: you crack an egg, crush a garlic clove, break a pencil, shatter a windscreen, and smash a vase.
Common collocations
Etymology
First recorded in English around the early 1700s. The word is likely onomatopoeic — it echoes the sound of something being struck and breaking. It may have been formed by blending 'smack' and 'mash' or 'smack' and 'crash'. By the 1800s it had developed the sporting and success-related meanings.