crumble
verb (used with object)
to break into small fragments or crumbs.
had crumbled
-
past perfectof crumble.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Andrea Canonico focused on her breathing to stay calm as she lay trapped under a building that had crumbled during the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Daniela Oropeza, 34, who works in tourism and lives in the seaside community of Catia La Mar, said a district known as Playa Grande had crumbled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
A victim impact statement was also read out on behalf of Sadio's father, who said that his daughter was "a brilliant mother, a leader and incredibly intelligent" but added that their lives "had crumbled".
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
In the few minutes it had taken to drop their son off, a landslide-plagued portion of the highway — ominously named Last Chance Grade — had crumbled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
A million years from now, when the rest of the city had crumbled, the bridge would probably remain like a fossilized bone.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
