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Synonyms

explosion

American  
[ik-sploh-zhuhn] / ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən /

noun

  1. an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (implosion ).

  2. the noise itself.

    The loud explosion woke them.

  3. a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.

  4. a sudden, rapid, or great increase.

    a population explosion.

  5. the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.

  6. Phonetics. plosion.

explosion British  
/ ɪkˈspləʊʒən /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of exploding

  2. a violent release of energy resulting from a rapid chemical or nuclear reaction, esp one that produces a shock wave, loud noise, heat, and light Compare implosion

  3. a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc

  4. a rapid increase, esp in a population

  5. phonetics another word for plosion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
explosion Scientific  
/ ĭk-splō′zhən /

  1. A violent blowing apart or bursting caused by energy released from a very fast chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction, or the escape of gases under pressure.

Other Word Forms

  • postexplosion adjective
  • preexplosion noun

Etymology

Origin of explosion

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin explōsiōn-, stem of explōsiō, from explōs(us) “driven off by clapping” (past participle of explōdere “to drive off by clapping, drive away”; explode ) + -iō -ion

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.

Her parents and friends all knew she was working on the mountain— news of the explosions would surely travel fast, and she didn’t want anyone to worry.

From Literature

Thus began the reggaeton star's rapid explosion to the top of global music.

From Barron's

A recent windfall came in early January after he got a social-media alert about explosions in Venezuela.

From The Wall Street Journal

After being rocked by explosions, typically bustling Quetta lay quiet on Sunday, with major roads and businesses deserted, and people staying indoors out of fear.

From Barron's

On Saturday, two explosions in Iran heightened anxiety in the country.

From BBC

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.