Word
topple
Phoneticstop·ple, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɑpəɫ/
UK/tˈɒpəl/
Definition
v. to fall over or to knock someone or something down. You can also use it to describe a leader or government losing power suddenly.
v. to fall over or to cause something to fall over; to overthrow a person in power or a government. Transitive when referring to an object or a leader; intransitive when describing the act of falling.
Examples
“The heavy wind toppled the old fence.”
“The scandal led to the sudden topple of the prime minister and his entire cabinet.”
“While the physical structure of the bridge remained intact, the political system toppled overnight as the public lost faith in the ruling party's ability to manage the crisis.”
Examples
simple
“The heavy wind toppled the old fence.”
contextual
“The scandal led to the sudden topple of the prime minister and his entire cabinet.”
complex
“While the physical structure of the bridge remained intact, the political system toppled overnight as the public lost faith in the ruling party's ability to manage the crisis.”
Real-World Examples
“He wanted to topple certain governments in the Middle East.” “There are decades in which nothing happens, and weeks in which decades happen, and those weeks tend to result in leaders being toppled.” Etymology
From top + -le (frequentative verb suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. topple over
- 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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QR code
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