to topple

Examples

• All

• His legs give way beneath him and he topples to the floor, inert.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The cable goes taut, and the tree topples directly into the path of the second snowmobile.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The buildings topple over and become rubble.

  Shawn Ryan Show

• He could quite easily topple this house off its foundation.

  Forbidden Planet (1956)

• Earthquakes toppled cities within hours.

  Oblivion (2013)

• Some experts maintain that the rebels still cling to their old dream of toppling the government.

  Academic text (1999)

• Robin runs after them and dives at the Friar, toppling him from the cart.

  Fiction book (1991)

• The wind was so strong that it made the trees topple over.

• She accidentally bumped the table, causing the vase to topple off and shatter.

Synonyms

F

to fall

vsto topple

∞ 1.0

Move or drop down from a higher to a lower place

is narrower, focusing on overturning or loss of balance rather than general drops

C

to collapse

vsto topple

579 3.9

To fall down suddenly, for example when a person faints or a building breaks

often implies internal failure or breaking apart rather than simple tipping or balance loss

F

to fall down

vsto topple

250 1.0

Suddenly move from a standing position to the ground or a lower level

often implies tipping by losing balance rather than only moving downward

T

to tip

vsto topple

148 1.8

To move something so it leans or falls to one side

usually stresses actual falling from balance rather than a simple tilt

G

to go over

vsto topple

108 3.5

To fall forward or tip onto the ground

covers falling by losing balance in any direction rather than only forward

T

to tumble

vsto topple

88 2.9

To fall or roll suddenly, often turning over

involves tipping by balance loss rather than rolling repeatedly or spinning

K

to knock over

vsto topple

68 2.6

Make something fall by hitting or bumping it

happens from a hit or collision, while the other term covers balance loss

F

to fall over

vsto topple

67 1.0

To lose your balance or stop being steady and end up on the ground

includes that idea but also applies to causing objects to tip quickly

K

to knock down

vsto topple

57 3.2

Make a building or wall fall down suddenly

is less about violent destruction and more about overturning from imbalance

T

to tip over

vsto topple

27 3.0

Make something fall from a standing position

often refers to falling through loss of balance rather than a gentle tilt

K

to keel over

vsto topple

• Informal

16 5.7

Fall down suddenly because you faint or feel very weak

usually involves tipping from loss of balance rather than internal health collapse

T

to take a tumble

vsto topple

7 5.4

To fall suddenly, for example by tripping or by losing value

is used more for sudden overturning from imbalance than for small trips

B

to bowl over

vsto topple

1 5.1

To knock something so it falls over

is broader, including falls from losing balance and not only from impacts

O

to overbalance

vsto topple

1 5.6

To lose balance and almost fall

is broader, covering intentional or external causes as well as mere imbalance

A

arse over tit

vsto topple

• Offensive

1 9.9

To fall in a clumsy way and land head over heels

describes ordinary losing balance rather than a humorous or dramatic tumble

O

to overtip

vsto topple

5.8

To make something tilt so far that it falls over

is used more generally for sudden falls from loss of balance

O

to overset

vsto topple

6.4

To make something fall over or turn upside down

is similar but emphasizes sudden loss of balance rather than general overturning

T

to tump over

vsto topple

• UK

8.2

To make something that stands fall over

can mean the same action but also implies more sudden imbalance

T

to tump

vsto topple

• UK

9.9

To make something fall over by accident

focuses more on falling due to loss of balance than on minor tipping

Antonyms

S

to stand

∞ 1.0

To be or put something in an upright position

S

to stabilize

• US

197 3.7

To make something steady so it stops moving or falling

How Violent

to collapse

579 3.9

to topple

93 4.1

to overturn

30 4.1

to tip over

27 3.0

tilt

12 2.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology