smash

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to hit something with a lot of power.

v. to strike something with heavy force, often resulting in damage or a loud noise.

“He had to smash the door open to get into the burning house.”

“The waves continued to smash against the pier, eventually weakening the wooden supports until the entire structure collapsed into the sea.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to completely defeat an opponent or destroy a record.

v. to defeat an opponent overwhelmingly or to surpass a previous record by a significant margin.

“The young runner managed to smash the world record by two seconds.”

“The army managed to smash the enemy's final line of defence, ending the conflict much sooner than the generals had predicted.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the loud sound of something breaking or hitting something else.

n. the sound or act of a violent impact or collision.

“I heard a loud smash coming from the kitchen and found a broken plate.”

“The sudden smash of the car hitting the wall echoed through the quiet neighbourhood, bringing residents out of their homes to investigate.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. something that is very popular, like a famous song or movie.

n. a person or thing that is a great success, particularly in the entertainment industry. Often used in the compound 'smash hit'.

“Her new album was a total smash and stayed at number one for weeks.”

“The musical proved to be a surprise smash, selling out every performance during its initial three-month run on Broadway.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. a very hard, downward hit in sports like tennis.

n. a powerful, overhead stroke hit sharply downward into the opponent's court.

“She won the final point with a powerful smash that her opponent couldn't reach.”

“The player's signature smash was nearly impossible to return, often bouncing high into the stands before the defender could react.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Aviation Technical · Informal

n. the speed of an aircraft through the air.

n. a term used to refer to airspeed or dynamic pressure.

“The pilot checked the instruments to see if they had enough smash for the climb.”

“The instructor warned the student that losing too much smash during the turn could lead to an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.”