Definition

1. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To burst or shatter violently and noisily as a result of rapid combustion, excessive internal pressure, or other violent release of energy: The primary meaning, referring to a sudden, violent bursting with a loud noise.
   • To increase suddenly, rapidly, and uncontrollably: To expand or increase in number, size, or intensity at a very fast rate.
   • To show or express a sudden, violent emotion: To express a strong emotion, especially anger, suddenly and forcefully.
   • To break out or occur suddenly and violently: To begin or happen with sudden force.

2. Verb (Transitive):

   • To cause to burst or blow up violently and noisily: To detonate or make something burst apart.
   • To show (a theory, belief, or myth) to be false or baseless; to refute conclusively: To destroy the credibility of an idea by proving it wrong.
   • To discredit or reject suddenly and forcefully: To drive someone or something from a position by strong disapproval or refutation.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive Verb:

  • The fireworks exploded in a shower of colorful sparks. (The fireworks burst apart with noise and light.)
  • The city's population exploded after the discovery of gold. (The city's population increased very rapidly.)
  • He finally exploded with rage after hours of frustration. (He finally expressed his anger violently and suddenly.)

• Transitive Verb:

  • The demolition team exploded the old building safely. (The team caused the building to burst apart.)
  • The scientist's new data exploded the long-held theory. (The new data proved the old theory completely false.)
  • The audience exploded the bad actor off the stage with their boos. (The audience drove the actor away with loud disapproval.)

Advanced Usage

• "to explode into": to suddenly begin an activity or change into a state with great energy.
  • The quiet meeting exploded into a heated argument. (The meeting suddenly became a violent argument.)
• "to explode onto the scene": to appear or become successful very suddenly and noticeably.
  • The new band exploded onto the music scene last year. (The band became very famous very quickly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Explosion (n): The act or instance of exploding; a sudden, violent burst.
  • The explosion could be heard for miles.
• Explosive (adj/n): (Adj.) Able or likely to explode; (n.) A substance that can cause an explosion.
  • The situation was highly explosive. (Adj.)
  • The police found explosives in the car. (n.)
• Exploder (n): A person or device that causes an explosion (less common).

Synonyms

• Detonate: To explode, especially in a planned or controlled manner (often for bombs).
• Blow up: To explode or cause to explode (more informal).
• Erupt: To burst out suddenly and violently (often for volcanoes, violence, or emotions).
• Disprove: To show that something is not true (for the "refute" meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Explode with: To be suddenly full of a strong emotion.
  • She exploded with laughter at the joke. (She suddenly started laughing very hard.)
• Explode in/into: To suddenly change into a particular state, often a violent one.
  • The protest exploded into a riot. (The protest suddenly became a riot.)

Related Idioms

• Explode a bombshell: To reveal shocking or surprising news.
  • The journalist exploded a bombshell with her latest report. (The journalist revealed very surprising news.)
• Have/be a short fuse: To be quick to anger (this idiom describes a person who is likely to with anger easily).
  • Be careful what you say; the boss has a very short fuse. (The boss gets angry very easily.)

Verb

1. increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner
   • The population of India is exploding
   • The island's rodent population irrupted
2. burst and release energy as through a violent chemical or physical reaction
   • the bomb detonated at noon
   • The Molotov cocktail exploded
3. show (a theory or claim) to be baseless, or refute and make obsolete
4. drive from the stage by noisy disapproval
5. cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/
6. destroy by exploding
   • The enemy exploded the bridge
7. be unleashed; emerge with violence or noise
   • His anger exploded
8. show a violent emotional reaction
   • The boss exploded when he heard of the resignation of the secretary
9. burst outward, usually with noise
   • The champagne bottle exploded
10. cause to burst with a violent release of energy
    • We exploded the nuclear bomb