topple
Americanverb (used without object)
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topples,
present (3rd person singular)
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toppled,
past participle, past
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toppling
present participle
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to fall forward, as from having too heavy a top; pitch; tumble down.
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to lean over or jut, as if threatening to fall.
verb
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to tip over or cause to tip over, esp from a height
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(intr) to lean precariously or totter
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(tr) to overthrow; oust
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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topplesimple
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topplessimple
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have toppledperfect
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has toppledperfect
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am topplingprogressive
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are topplingprogressive
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is topplingprogressive
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have been topplingperfect progressive
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has been topplingperfect progressive
Past
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toppledsimple
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had toppledperfect
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was topplingprogressive
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were topplingprogressive
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had been topplingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of topple
Explanation
To topple something is to knock it down. A house of cards can be toppled — so can a government. Things can topple in several ways. If a building collapses or falls down for any reason, it topples. If you knocked over another student, you toppled that person. Governments that are overthrown are also said to be toppled. When you see the word topple, someone or something is going down.
Vocabulary lists containing topple
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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"Sorry, Wrong Number," Vocabulary from the play
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The War That Saved My Life
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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.
See Examples For:
The incident between Leclerc and Hamilton on lap one took place in the context of Hamilton saying after qualifying they had to "work as a team to try and topple" Mercedes.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
NHK aired footage from elsewhere in the southwestern Kumamoto region on Kyushu island showing several blazes, damaged bridges, a derailed cargo train and a number of houses threatening to topple over.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Runner Josh Kerr transformed his entire life to cover the distance in 3 minutes 42.66 seconds last week to topple a mark that had stood for 27 years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
James is every ambitious director threatening to topple this town in a narcissistic quest to create the ultimate special effects epic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
I looked up in time to see a twenty-ton scowling Hera topple over on us.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
A Silicon Valley enclave topples Miami island as the most expensive U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
At another dance, he gets his spurs entangled in his partner’s skirts and topples to the floor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
Anyone who’s seen Abela’s work in HBO’s excellent finance drama “Industry” — which, in my opinion, topples "Succession" — knows she has the varied skillset of any great actor.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2025
You look so shocked when a dog topples your precious kid over!
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 18, 2023
The creature topples over, a flailing arm sending a pyramid of golden apples spilling to the dirt.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Mahinda's brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was serving as leader at that time, was eventually toppled.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
That figure toppled the number of cases reported in all of 2025, and some public health experts believe it may be an undercount.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
But the August 26 disaster also came just ahead of the anniversary of last year's September 8-9 youth-driven anti-corruption protests that toppled the previous government.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
That record was promptly toppled that March when a group of seven Berkeley students completed a run in five hours and 47 minutes, a feat certified as a Guinness World Record.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Mr. Flux was laid out on a toppled nonfiction shelf.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
Saturday's celebrations mark the 115th anniversary of the toppling of China's Qing dynasty and the subsequent founding of the Republic of China.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
In 1977, Dundee went head-to-head with Jerry Lawler at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, toppling “The King” and taking $2,000 of Lawler’s own money.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Olivia Dean speaks about obliterating a record held by Abba, toppling Jay-Z and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and why meeting Stevie Wonder almost did her in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
Dolphin brought heavy rain to Japan's Okinawa island, cutting power to tens of thousands of buildings, toppling trees and cancelling flights.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Von Marsh hollered, nearly toppling from the sudden lurch of movement.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
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