Word
collapse
Phoneticscol·lapse, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈɫæps/
UK/kəlˈæps/
Definitions
01to fall down
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to fall down suddenly because of a lack of strength or support.
v. to fall down or cave in suddenly due to structural failure or lack of support.
日本語:崩れる※
“The old wooden bridge collapsed after the heavy rain flooded the river.”
“The abandoned warehouse finally collapsed under the weight of the winter snow, leaving nothing but a pile of twisted metal and broken bricks.”
Usage
Often used with 'under' to describe the cause of the failure.
02to fail or break down
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to stop working or fail completely and suddenly.
v. to cease to function or lose all value due to a sudden breakdown or failure.
日本語:破綻する※
“The peace talks collapsed when neither side could agree on the new borders.”
“Economists warned that the national currency might collapse if the government failed to address the rising inflation rates.”
Teaching tip
Commonly used in business and political contexts to describe systems or negotiations.
Synonyms
03to faint
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
v. to fall down because you are very sick, tired, or hurt.
v. to fall down suddenly as a result of a physical health crisis, exhaustion, or loss of consciousness.
日本語:倒れる※
“The runner collapsed just as she crossed the finish line of the marathon.”
“He collapsed from heat exhaustion after working in the fields for ten hours without a break.”
Usage
Intransitive; does not take a direct object.
04to hide data
B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing Technical
v. to hide a list of items on a computer screen to save space.
v. to hide the subentries of a hierarchical list or directory tree in a user interface.
“You can collapse the folder to see more files on your screen.”
“The developer added a button to collapse all nested comments, making the long thread much easier for users to navigate.”
Usage
Transitive; takes the name of the list or folder as an object.
Antonyms
05to fold
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to fold something so that it becomes small and easy to carry.
v. to fold into a more compact shape for storage or transport.
Español:colapsar
“This camping chair is great because it collapses and fits into a small bag.”
“The stroller features a lightweight frame that collapses with one hand, making it ideal for parents using public transport.”
06a sudden failure
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sudden event where something falls down or fails completely.
n. a sudden failure of an institution, system, or physical structure.
“The collapse of the stock market caused many people to lose their savings.”
“The sudden collapse of the building led to a massive investigation into the quality of the construction materials used.”
Usage
Often followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “collapse” in context.
Verb
01. collapse and die
“Tragically, the marathon runner collapsed and died shortly after crossing the finish line.”
verb + and + verb
02. collapse for easy storage
“This modern camping table collapses for easy storage in the trunk of your car.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
03. collapse into a chair
“After working a double shift, she collapsed into a chair and fell asleep instantly.”
verb + prep + noun
Noun
04. collapse of the system
“Economists are worried that the collapse of the banking system will lead to a global recession.”
noun + of + noun
Adverb
05. collapse inward
“The abandoned building's roof began to collapse inward during the storm.”
verb + adv
06. completely collapse
“Peace talks completely collapsed after both sides refused to compromise on the border issue.”
adv + verb
07. suddenly collapse
“The old wooden bridge suddenly collapsed under the weight of the heavy truck.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“But he added it was "simply not possible to prevent all offenders from being released early without the prison system collapsing".” “In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.” “Protests that erupted after railway station canopy collapsed, killing 16, have grown into a broad social movement.” “It reports that nurses collapsed in the "stifling heat" and "3,000 patients a day" were treated in corridors.” Etymology
From Latin collāpsus (past participle of collābor).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/collapse
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0