# detonate

/ˈdɛtəˌneɪt/ (US) · /dˈɛtənˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/detonate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to explode

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to explode suddenly and with great force.

For teachers: to explode or ignite with sudden violence. Used intransitively when the subject is the explosive itself.

- The old bomb detonated unexpectedly while the workers were digging.
- The unstable chemical compound detonated the moment it was exposed to direct sunlight, shattering the reinforced glass of the laboratory container.

### 3. to react with anger

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to suddenly become very angry and start shouting.

For teachers: to react with a sudden, violent outburst of emotion or anger. Figurative and intransitive use.

- The manager detonated when he saw the mistakes in the final report.
- After weeks of suppressed frustration, he finally detonated during the board meeting, accusing his colleagues of gross negligence.

## Examples

- The technician detonated the charge to clear the path.
- The safety team waited for the signal to detonate the explosives safely away from the historic building.
- The chemical reaction was so rapid that it detonated the entire laboratory, causing significant structural damage to the facility and requiring a full cleanup operation.

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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.