Word
demolish
Phoneticsde·mol·ish, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈmɑɫɪʃ/
UK/dɪmˈɒlɪʃ/
Definitions
01to destroy a building
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to knock down a building or large structure, usually on purpose.
v. to pull or knock down a building or other structure, typically as a planned operation.
“The city decided to demolish the old factory to make room for a park.”
“The construction crew used a wrecking ball to demolish the condemned apartment block, clearing the site for a new sustainable housing development.”
Synonyms
02to prove wrong
C1 · Advanced Academic
v. to show that an idea, argument, or theory is completely false.
v. to effectively refute or discredit an argument, theory, or belief system.
“The lawyer used new evidence to demolish the witness's story.”
“In her latest paper, the scientist managed to demolish the long-standing theory that the two species were unrelated.”
03to eat quickly
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
v. to eat a large amount of food very quickly.
v. to consume food rapidly and completely.
“The teenagers managed to demolish three large pizzas in ten minutes.”
“After the marathon, he proceeded to demolish a massive plate of pasta, barely pausing for breath between bites.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is frequently used in both literal architectural contexts and figurative rhetorical contexts.
Real-World Examples
“Unlike nearby Walmer Castle, which still stands, Sandown was abandoned to the sea during the 19th century and largely demolished.” “One of the family's two houses has already been demolished.” Etymology
Attested since the 16th century; from Middle French demoliss-, the stem of some conjugated forms of the verb demolir (“to destroy”, “to tear down”), from Latin dēmōlior (“I tear down”). Displaced native Old English tōweorpan (literally “to throw apart”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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