to crash

Examples

• All

• As pounding waves crashed over the survivors, they wondered: would help arrive in time?

  Academic text (2011)

• On the way back, the bus crashed.

  A Man Called Otto (2022)

• You said I'm going to crash this car into a wall.

• So when the chopper crashed, they knew exactly what to do.

  Academic text (2011)

• A fourth plane, taken by hijackers whose destination will remain unknown, crashed in Pennsylvania.

  Academic text (2001)

• The car crashed into the wall with a loud bang, leaving a dent.

• When the thunderstorm struck, a tree crashed down onto the house.

• He accidentally crashed his bike into a fence while riding too fast.

Synonyms

W

to wreck

vsto crash

225 2.9

To badly damage or destroy something

involves force and noise but does not always mean heavy destruction

C

to collide

vsto crash

64 3.1

Crash into each other while moving

involves forceful contact but can be one-sided rather than mutual

K

to knock down

vsto crash

57 3.2

Make a building or wall fall down suddenly

is about forceful impact or movement rather than guaranteed collapse

C

to clash

vsto crash

13 2.2

To hit each other and make a loud sound

focuses on loud noisy impact not on causing severe destruction

R

to ram

vsto crash

1 4.1

To hit something with great force

uses great force and noise but is not necessarily a single aimed strike

Phrasal Verbs

C

to crash land

15 4.6

To put a plane or helicopter down quickly in an emergency, often causing damage

G

to gate-crash

• UK

1 6.8

To go into a party or event without an invitation

C

to crash-dive

• Specialized

8.1

To go down very steeply and quickly, often for a plane or submarine

Compounds

C

car crash

72 1.3

A collision between cars that causes damage or injury

C

crash course

17 3.4

A short course that teaches important skills quickly

C

crash landing

7 4.4

An emergency landing when a plane cannot land normally and is often damaged

C

crash helmet

• UK

4 2.3

A hard padded hat people wear when riding a bike or motorcycle to protect the head in a crash

C

crash program

• US

2 4.4

A short, intense course of training to meet an urgent need

C

crash dive

• Specialized

1 7.5

A very fast, steep descent by a submarine or plane to avoid danger

C

crash barrier

• UK

3.2

A strong barrier at the side or middle of a road that stops cars from leaving the road

H

head crash

• Specialized

8.6

An accident when the small moving part that reads a hard drive touches the disk and destroys data

How Forceful

to smash

311 2.1

to crash

481 2.2

to strike

553 2.4

to hit

∞ 1.0

to bump

111 1.0

to nudge

33 3.8

Surface Forms

Etymology