blowup
Americannoun
-
an explosion.
-
a violent argument, outburst of temper, or the like, especially one resulting in estrangement.
-
Also blow-up an enlargement of a photograph.
Etymology
Origin of blowup
First recorded in 1800–10; noun use of verb phrase blow up
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.
From there, the stock could really take off—with far less chance of a blowup.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
And we’re so in it and doing it and then to have like this blowup argument over and over and again, take after take, angle after angle.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Following the blowup with the Pentagon, Amodei told CBS News that Congress should weigh in on how AI could be used for mass surveillance in ways that he suggested haven’t caught up with current laws.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
Economist Anna Wong outlined the risks of a hyperscaler blowup.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026
“It caused a huge blowup on the front lawn, but eventually Evelyn won.”
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
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.
