# crashing

/ˈkɹæʃɪŋ/ (US) · /kɹˈæʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crashing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. the sound of impact

noun · CEFR B1

the loud noise made when something hits something else or breaks.

For teachers: a gerundial noun referring to the audible resonance or physical act of a collision.

- The sudden crashing in the attic woke everyone up in the middle of the night.
- The constant crashing of the machinery made it impossible for the workers to hear the foreman's instructions.

### 3. extreme or severe

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

used to describe something very bad, loud, or extreme.

For teachers: an intensifier used to describe something severe, total, or overwhelming in its impact.

- The party was a crashing bore and we left after only ten minutes.
- The project's failure was a crashing disappointment to the investors who had backed the startup from its inception.

Usage: Typically used before a noun to intensify a negative quality.

## Examples

- The waves are crashing against the rocks.
- My laptop keeps crashing whenever I try to open this large video file.
- The sound of thunder crashing overhead echoed through the valley, signaling the arrival of the storm that the villagers had been dreading all week.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.