fall apart

British  

verb

1. to break owing to long use or poor construction

   the chassis is falling apart

2. to become disorganized and ineffective

   since you resigned, the office has fallen apart

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fall apart Idioms  

1. Collapse, break down, either physically or mentally and emotionally. For example, This chair is about to fall apart, or After his wife died, he fell apart. For synonyms for the latter usage, see come apart at the seams; go to pieces.

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Example Sentences

Maybe as the city seems to fall apart, she’ll find a leafy park or the back of a dingy bar that’s the right home for these strange, lonely yet hopeful songs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

BuzzFeed went public in 2021 through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company, and things started to fall apart.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

"It was incredible to be able to talk to someone who wasn't family, who wasn't involved, and who could just be there, while I let myself fall apart with the grief of it."

From BBC • May 2, 2026

A deal could come together in the coming weeks, the people said, cautioning that the talks could still fall apart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The cardboard inside my shoe got soggy and started to fall apart.

From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez

Related Words

• break down
• collapse
• crumble