explosion
Americannoun
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explosions
plural
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an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (opposed to implosion).
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the noise itself.
The loud explosion woke them.
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a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.
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a sudden, rapid, or great increase.
a population explosion.
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the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.
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Phonetics. plosion.
noun
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the act or an instance of exploding
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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
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a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc
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a rapid increase, esp in a population
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phonetics another word for plosion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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”; see explode) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Whether it's a bursting balloon or a detonating bomb, you're sure to notice an explosion. An explosion involves a sudden and often violent burst of energy. The noun explosion is useful when you're talking about a watermelon smashing on the pavement or the burst of fireworks overhead, but it can also describe a sudden increase in something, like an explosion of excitement at a birthday party when the pony arrives. Originally, explosion was used to mean "scornful rejection," from its root in the Latin explodere, "hiss off the stage," and a disappointed audience today might still be described as "exploding with boos."
Vocabulary lists containing explosion
Unit 6, Week 4
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"Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall
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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 combined observations helped establish that the unusual X-ray activity was connected to a compact object merger rather than another type of stellar explosion.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Another witness in Adigrat, who also asked for anonymity, said they had heard a "massive explosion during the night".
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
The Harpers, along with other victims and their families are campaigning for a public inquiry into the Creeslough explosion.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The explosion has triggered more movement, with another glacier headed toward Alaska.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
A brilliant flash followed a second later by an explosion that shook the bed.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
"They didn't want to see explosions in costs of everything," Brown added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Some people will always want their superhero TV shows to feature battles and explosions every week.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
It measures how fast distant galaxies are moving away from our home galaxy, the Milky Way, by observing the brightness of supernovae explosions in these far away galaxies.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026
The toddler doesn’t know what’s causing the muffled explosions across the city, says her mother, Tetiana.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
The horses' hooves land like explosions on the water and sand.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
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.
