Collapse Meaning
Collapse Definition & Usage
To fall down or cave in due to pressure or damage, often suddenly.
Examples
- "The building collapsed under the weight of the snow."
- "She collapsed into a chair, exhausted from the long day."
- "The bridge collapsed after the earthquake."
- "He collapsed from exhaustion during the marathon."
- "The roof collapsed after the fire weakened its structure."
To give way emotionally or mentally due to overwhelming stress or pressure.
Examples
- "She collapsed into tears after hearing the tragic news."
- "His resolve collapsed under the pressure of the job."
- "The team collapsed after losing their star player."
- "He collapsed emotionally when he was told his mother was ill."
- "The system collapsed under the weight of its own corruption."
The sudden failure or breakdown of a system, structure, or person.
Examples
- "The collapse of the economy led to widespread unemployment."
- "The city was devastated by the collapse of the infrastructure."
- "The collapse of the healthcare system has become a major concern."
- "The sudden collapse of the team left fans in disbelief."
- "His collapse in the middle of the match shocked everyone."
Cultural Context
The word 'collapse' has roots in both physical and figurative senses. It has been commonly used to describe the fall or breakdown of physical structures (such as buildings or bridges) due to force, as well as to describe emotional or psychological breakdowns, often in a metaphorical context. The concept of collapse is linked to themes of failure, destruction, and vulnerability.
The Collapse of Resolve
Story
The Collapse of Resolve
It was a typical winter morning when the collapse began. Rebecca had been preparing for the most important presentation of her career for weeks. She’d studied late into the night, rehearsed endlessly, but when she finally entered the boardroom, her nerves betrayed her. As she stood at the front of the room, her legs began to shake, her heart raced, and suddenly, everything she had prepared for seemed to vanish. She collapsed into the nearest chair, a wave of exhaustion and fear washing over her. The weight of expectations, both her own and those of her colleagues, was too much. As the minutes ticked by, she could feel the collapse of her confidence as surely as the way an old building gives way under pressure. Her mind was a fog, and she could barely process the words of her boss, who seemed to be offering reassurance. Later that day, walking home, she reflected on the incident. It wasn’t just her presentation that had collapsed. Her entire sense of self-worth had been chipped away over the last few months, little by little, until there was nothing left but the inevitable breakdown. The collapse wasn’t just physical or emotional—it was a series of small failures, each one adding to the pressure. In a quiet moment, she promised herself she would rebuild, no matter how long it took. In the coming days, Rebecca took time to reflect, to breathe, and to recharge. The collapse had not been the end, but merely the beginning of her recovery. She would return stronger, ready to face the world again.
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