plural blowups
: a blowing up: such as
a
b
: an outburst of temper
d
: a catastrophic financial failure or collapse
Sometime in the next few years, a blowup is likely—one that could sink an already foundering economy.—
David Henry
David Henry
: designed to be inflated before use : inflatable
Here on the south coast the unusually warm seas have been filled with the inflatable vessels … : blow-up kayaks, dinghies and paddleboards.—Ian Burrell
Ian BurrellSleeping in the car has now gone from rough and ready to the most comfortable outdoor experience—thanks to an ingenious blow-up mattress.—Becky Pemberton
Becky Pemberton
blew up; blown up; blowing up; blows up
1
: to build up or tout to an unreasonable extent
advertisers blowing up their products
2
: to rend apart, shatter, or destroy by explosion
3
: to fill up with a gas (such as air)
blow up a balloon
4
: to make a photographic enlargement of
5
: to bring into existence by blowing of wind
it may blow up a storm
6
: to overwhelm (something, such as a phone) with calls, messages, alerts, etc.
… say your friend is blowing up your phone with … messages while you're supposed to be focusing on something else.—Jake Peterson
Jake Peterson1
a
: explode
b
: to be disrupted or destroyed (as by explosion)
c
: to lose self-control
especially
: to become violently angry
2
: to become or come into being by or as if by blowing of wind
3
a
: to become filled with a gas
b
: to become expanded to unreasonable proportions
c
: to gain a large amount of weight
In the ensuing two years Gibson blew up to more than 400 pounds as he ate an over-abundance of fast foods …—Tim Crothers
Tim Crothers4
: to suddenly become very successful, prevalent, or popular
Latin-tinged pop is blowing up because it fits the musical times: …—Christopher John Farley
Christopher John FarleySynonyms
Examples of blowup in a Sentence
Noun
The blowup of the photograph was easy to frame.
The two of them had a big blowup about something trivial.
The coach's latest blowup occurred when one of his players arrived late.
Verb
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
the building blew up because of a gas leak
Recent Examples on the Web
Raphaële Chappe, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020
Following a big blowup at Angie’s mob-wives anniversary party, no real issues between the women have been resolved.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Before the play begins, the cast bops around together onstage, vaping and chilling on a blow-up chaise longue and sharing a Kool-Aid-like substance from a plastic gallon jug covered in Sharpie graffiti.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
But as the episode closes out with the child-rescue mission literally blowing up in her face, things look bleak for Joe and her future out of the gray zone.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blowup 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Consider, first, the distinction between past responses to financial blowups and today’s magic money.
—Raphaële Chappe, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020
Following a big blowup at Angie’s mob-wives anniversary party, no real issues between the women have been resolved.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Dream opted for a blow-up alien costume, standing with her aunt and cousins in the snap.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Before the play begins, the cast bops around together onstage, vaping and chilling on a blow-up chaise longue and sharing a Kool-Aid-like substance from a plastic gallon jug covered in Sharpie graffiti.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
High wind gusts seen throughout the morning are expected to continue, with some topping 30-40 mph, which can lower visibility from blowing up snow.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
But as the episode closes out with the child-rescue mission literally blowing up in her face, things look bleak for Joe and her future out of the gray zone.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blowup
Dictionary Entries Near blowup
Cite this Entry
“Blowup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blowup. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blowup
1 of 2 noun
blow·up
ˈblō-ˌəp 
blow up
2 of 2 verbˈblō-ˈəp
1
: to expand or become expanded to extraordinary size
2
: to fill up or become filled with a gas and especially air
blow up a balloon
3
: to make an enlargement of
blow up a photograph
4
a
: to destroy or become destroyed by explosion
b
: to become violently angry
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share