1
a
: an explosive device fused to detonate under specified conditions
b
: atomic bomb
also
: nuclear weapons in general
—usually used with the
2
: a vessel for compressed gases: such as
a
: a pressure vessel for conducting chemical experiments
b
: a container for an aerosol (such as an insecticide) : spray can
3
: a rounded mass of lava exploded from a volcano
4
: a lead-lined container for radioactive material
6
British
: a large sum of money
7
a
British
: a great success : hit
b
slang
: one that is striking or extraordinary
—used with the
their new album is the bomb
8
a
: a long pass in football
b
: a very long shot (as in basketball)
shooting 3-point bombs
also
: home run
9
: something unexpected and unpleasant
—often used with drop
dropped a bomb with her resignation
bombed; bombing; bombs
1
2
a
: to defeat decisively
b
baseball
: to score many runs against (a pitcher)
Allen tried a new slider pitch without success and was bombed in Cincinnati.—
Jack Lang
Jack Lang3
: to hit (a ball, puck, or shot) very hard
bomb a home run
bomb a long drive down the fairway
4
slang
: to fail (a test)
I bombed my history exam.
1
informal
: to fall flat : to fail completely
The movie bombed at the box office.
a joke that bombed
2
informal
: to move rapidly
a car bombing down the hill
bombing
noun
The city was subjected to heavy bombing during the war.
suicide bombings
Synonyms
Examples of bomb in a Sentence
Noun
A bomb went off downtown.
Many bombs were dropped on the city during the war.
They hid a bomb in the building.
countries that have the bomb
Verb
The city was heavily bombed during the war.
The planes flew 200 miles to bomb their target.
The movie bombed at the box office.
The play bombed on Broadway.
He bombed at his first performance.
I completely bombed my math exam.
A car was bombing down the highway.
teenagers bombing around in a convertible
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Over the past week, the Russian Federation has launched a significant assault on Ukraine, deploying 900 glide bombs, 500 Shahed drones, and 30 missiles.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Just look at the box office where stories with new characters like Madame Web and The Crow are bombing.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bomb 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Before the eruption, which lasted for more than 24 hours and had the power of thousands of nuclear bombs, Mount Vesuvius had been mostly dormant for centuries.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Over the past week, the Russian Federation has launched a significant assault on Ukraine, deploying 900 glide bombs, 500 Shahed drones, and 30 missiles.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
On May 8, 2023, shortly before dawn, Jordanian fighter jets bombed Ramthan’s family house.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Just look at the box office where stories with new characters like Madame Web and The Crow are bombing.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bomb
Articles Related to bomb
Dictionary Entries Near bomb
Cite this Entry
“Bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bomb. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bomb
1 of 2 noun1
a
: an explosive device that has a fuse and is designed to go off under any of various conditions
b
: atomic bomb
also
: nuclear weapons in general
—usually used with the
2
: a container in which a substance (as an insecticide) is stored under pressure and from which it is released in a fine spray
bomb
2 of 2 verb1
: to attack with bombs
2
informal
: to fail completely
the movie bombed
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