ENGLISH WORD FILE NO. 00499 · Core CSAT & TOEIC Vocabulary
collapse
v.
US/kəˈlæps/
UK/kəˈlæps/
CSAT Frequency72/100
TOEIC Frequency68/100
02
Meanings of collapse
1verb
To fall down or cave in suddenly, or to fail or break down completely.
The old bridge collapsed during the heavy storm last night.
The old bridge collapsed during the heavy storm last night.
His health collapsed after years of overwork and stress.
His health collapsed after years of overwork and stress.
03
Derivatives of collapse
collapsed
collapsed (adjective/past tense)
The collapsed tent was lying on the ground after the windstorm.
The collapsed tent was lying on the ground after the windstorm.
collapsing
collapsing (adjective/present participle)
The collapsing infrastructure required urgent government funding.
The collapsing infrastructure required urgent government funding.
collapse into
collapse into (phrasal verb)
She collapsed into tears after hearing the news.
She collapsed into tears after hearing the news.
on the verge of collapse
on the verge of collapse (phrase)
The company was on the verge of collapse before the merger.
The company was on the verge of collapse before the merger.
04
Synonyms & Antonyms of collapse
05
Common Phrases with collapse
collapse into rubblecollapse into rubble
collapse due to fatiguecollapse due to fatigue
structural collapsestructural collapse
economic collapseeconomic collapse
complete collapsecomplete collapse
06
Practice Question: collapse
Choose the best word for the blank
The construction site's poorly maintained scaffolding ___ without warning, injuring several workers.
- A collapse
- B collapsed
- C collapses
- D collapsing
The past tense 'collapsed' is required because the event happened at a specific time in the past ('without warning').