explosion

American  

[ik-sploh-zhuhn] / ɪkˈsploʊ ʒən /

noun

• explosions
  plural

1. an act or instance of exploding; a violent expansion or bursting with noise, as of gunpowder or a boiler (opposed to implosion).

2. the noise itself.

   The loud explosion woke them.

3. a violent outburst, as of laughter or anger.

4. a sudden, rapid, or great increase.

   a population explosion.

5. the burning of the mixture of fuel and air in an internal-combustion engine.

6. Phonetics. plosion.

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explosion British  

/ ɪkˈspləʊʒən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of exploding

2. 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

3. a sudden or violent outburst of activity, noise, emotion, etc

4. a rapid increase, esp in a population

5. phonetics another word for plosion

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explosion Scientific  

/ ĭk-splō′zhən /

1. A violent blowing apart or bursting caused by energy released from a very fast chemical reaction, a nuclear reaction, or the escape of gases under pressure.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preexplosion
  noun
• postexplosion
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• explosions
  plural

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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

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

explosion explosions

In recent years, there's been an explosion of products marketed as "high protein", including milk, yoghurt, breads, cereals, bars and powders.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

A spectacular explosion of wildflowers has transformed the normally dry, rust-colored landscape of Western Australia into a vibrant patchwork of green and colorful blooms.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

“It just slowly over time became too much until I did just have this explosion moment. I was playing those songs every night, and it didn’t feel like me anymore.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

Zakhavko heard an explosion nearby—she couldn’t tell how far away.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

It would be impossible for Papa to vanish from the earth without an explosion of grief from the air itself.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Awkwardness is to Mr. Fielder what explosions are to Michael Bay, and he revels in the long, bizarre takes in which she maintains a frozen facial expression for agonizing periods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Eight of 12 crew members are missing after a tanker caught fire off Romania's coast, naval authorities say, and there are reports of explosions on board.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

These extraordinarily violent events produce gravitational waves and rank among the most powerful explosions in the Universe.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Loud explosions rattled the Saudi capital on Monday evening.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Something that would tell me that there were explosions happening inside of her, and that she was one of us—a mourner.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

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Related Words

• blast
• burst
• detonation
• firing
• outbreak
• outburst

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