# smash

/ˈsmæʃ/ (US) · /smˈæʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/smash
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to break violently

verb · CEFR B1

to break something into many small pieces by hitting it or dropping it.

For teachers: to break something brittle into fragments using sudden, violent force. Often used transitively with a direct object.

- The window smashed into a thousand pieces when the ball hit it.
- The protesters began to smash the shop windows, leaving the pavement covered in dangerous shards of glass before the police arrived.

### 2. to hit hard

verb · CEFR B2

to hit something with a lot of power.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to defeat or destroy

verb · CEFR B2

to completely defeat an opponent or destroy a record.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. a loud crash

noun · CEFR B1

the loud sound of something breaking or hitting something else.

For teachers: 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.

### 6. a big success

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

For teachers: 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.

### 7. overhead shot

noun · CEFR B2

a very hard, downward hit in sports like tennis.

For teachers: 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.

### 8. airspeed

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Informal

the speed of an aircraft through the air.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually uncountable in this technical sense.

## Examples

- He accidentally smashed the glass on the floor.
- The tennis player managed to smash the ball across the court to win the final point.
- The waves continued to smash against the jagged rocks, slowly eroding the coastline over centuries of relentless winter storms.

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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.