# explode

/ɪksˈpɫoʊd/ (US) · /ɛksplˈəʊd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to blow up

verb · CEFR B1

to burst or fly apart suddenly with a loud noise and great force.

For teachers: to undergo a rapid expansion or chemical reaction that causes a violent bursting or detonation.

- The old boiler might explode if the pressure gets too high.
- The controlled demolition caused the derelict tower to explode inward, sending a massive plume of dust across the vacant lot.

### 2. to increase quickly

verb · CEFR B1

to increase in number or size very fast.

For teachers: to increase suddenly and rapidly in volume, number, or intensity.

- The city's population started to explode after the new factory opened.
- Subscription rates for the streaming service began to explode once they secured the exclusive rights to the international tournament.

### 3. to show sudden anger

verb · CEFR B2

to suddenly show a lot of anger or another strong emotion.

For teachers: to give sudden, violent expression to a powerful emotion, typically anger or frustration.

- He tried to stay calm, but he finally exploded when they lied to him.
- The manager exploded at the staff during the morning briefing, unable to tolerate another oversight in the production schedule.

### 4. to disprove

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to show that a common belief or idea is completely false.

For teachers: to show a theory or belief to be false or unfounded; to debunk a long-held myth.

- Modern science has exploded the myth that the earth is flat.
- The latest archaeological findings have effectively exploded the traditional narrative regarding the migration patterns of the early settlers.

### 5. to split text

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to break a piece of text into smaller parts using a specific character.

For teachers: to split a delimited string into an array of smaller strings based on a separator.

- You can explode the comma-separated list into individual names.
- The script is designed to explode the raw data string into a structured array for easier processing by the database.

### 6. exploded view

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to show the parts of a machine or object separated but in their right places.

For teachers: to represent a complex object in a diagram where the components are separated but positioned to show their relationship.

- The manual shows an exploded diagram of the engine so you can see every part.
- The technical illustrator chose to explode the assembly drawing to clarify how the internal gears interacted with the drive shaft.

## Examples

- The old boiler might explode if the pressure gets too high.
- The population of the small coastal town began to explode after the new highway made commuting to the city much easier.
- The chemist warned that mixing these two volatile compounds without proper ventilation would cause the glass container to explode, potentially showering the laboratory with hazardous debris.

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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.