detonate
verb (used without object)
to explode with suddenness and violence.
detonated
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past participleof detonate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof detonate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
detonateverb (used without object)to explode with suddenness and violence.
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.
When munitions are detonated underwater, the blast can spread contaminants through the surrounding environment.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
Questions about safety, data provenance, copyright and geopolitical risk arrived only after the model had already detonated across the market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
In June 1981, before becoming president, he survived a bombing claimed by the Mujahedin-e Khalq group, when an explosive device concealed in a tape recorder detonated during a speech.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
BBC reporter Angela Kalwaites said a "big bang" could be heard at the site at about 11:15, shortly before it was confirmed the bomb had been detonated.
From BBC ● May 1, 2026
She felt like she was back on the deck of the Argo II, holding the Boreads’ ice grenade just before it detonated.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
