explode
Americanverb (used without object)
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to expand with force and noise because of rapid chemical change or decomposition, as gunpowder or nitroglycerine (opposed to implode).
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to burst, fly into pieces, or break up violently with a loud report, as a boiler from excessive pressure of steam.
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to burst forth violently or emotionally, especially with noise, laughter, violent speech, etc..
He exploded with rage when contradicted.
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Phonetics. (of plosives) to terminate the occlusive phase with a plosion.
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Golf. to play an explosion shot on a golf ball.
verb (used with object)
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to cause (gunpowder, a boiler, etc.) to explode.
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to cause to be rejected; destroy the repute of; discredit or disprove.
to explode a theory.
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Phonetics. to end with plosion.
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Golf. to play an explosion shot on (a golf ball).
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Obsolete. to drive (a player, play, etc.) from the stage by loud expressions of disapprobation.
verb
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to burst or cause to burst with great violence as a result of internal pressure, esp through the detonation of an explosive; blow up
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to destroy or be destroyed in this manner
to explode a bridge
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(of a gas) to undergo or cause (a gas) to undergo a sudden violent expansion, accompanied by heat, light, a shock wave, and a loud noise, as a result of a fast uncontrolled exothermic chemical or nuclear reaction
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(intr) to react suddenly or violently with emotion, etc
to explode with anger
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(intr) (esp of a population) to increase rapidly
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(tr) to show (a theory, etc) to be baseless; refute and make obsolete
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(tr) phonetics to pronounce (a stop) with audible plosion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have explodedperfect
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has explodedperfect 3rd person singular
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are explodingprogressive
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has been explodingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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explodingparticiple
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have been explodingperfect progressive
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is explodingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am explodingprogressive 1st person singular
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explodessingular 3rd person
Past
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had explodedperfect
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had been explodingperfect progressive
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were explodingprogressive plural
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explodedsimple
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explodedparticiple
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was explodingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of explode
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin explōdere “to drive off by clapping, drive away,” from ex- ex- 1 + -plōdere, variant stem of plaudere “to clap” ( cf. applaud)
Explanation
Anything and anyone can explode — that is, produce a violent, sudden and usually very loud release of energy. Explode's two most common meanings refer to a physically destructive act, most commonly a bomb going off, or metaphorically, as in your parents' sudden fury when they see your end-of-year grades. Originally explode meant something quite different — to drive an unpleasing actor or group of performers from the stage by clapping and booing. (From the Latin words ex, meaning "out," and plaudere, "to clap one's hands.") Those ancient Greek and Roman crowds were tough.
Vocabulary lists containing explode
Brown Girl Dreaming
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"Raymond's Run"
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"Analysis of Baseball" and "Singing and Stretching"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One incredible moment off a U.S. foot could change all that, making sports bars explode and then dominate TikTok.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
At the time, Suarez urged Uruguay fans "not to take it out on the players when things go wrong" because "the players will reach a limit and they will explode" under Bielsa's working conditions.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Prediction markets have seen volume explode over the past year, as investors have turned to them to place bets on everything from the Iran war to elections.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
As AI applications explode in popularity, Reitzes contended, IBM could see an “unexpected surprise” regarding its flagship public cloud offering, Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Cloud.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
I don’t want to see Ms. Jacobs explode.
From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
