topple

verb

top·​ple ˈtä-pəl How to pronounce topple (audio)
toppled; toppling ˈtä-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce topple (audio)

intransitive verb

: to fall from or as if from being top-heavy

transitive verb

1
: to cause to topple
2
a
: overthrow sense 2
topple a dictator

Examples of topple in a Sentence

The strong winds toppled many trees. The earthquake toppled the buildings. The tree toppled into the river. The rebels tried to topple the dictator. The phone company has toppled its local competition.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The storm, which produced violent tornadoes, raging wildfires, and blinding dust storms, decimated homes, toppled vehicles, and left entire communities reeling from the devastation. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025 It should be mentioned that on Jan. 16, in a game on Long Island, Konecny toppled into the end wall, with his right shoulder seemingly taking the brunt of the impact. Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, the Oklahoma State Patrol said in a social media post that dusty winds toppled several tractor-trailers. CBS News, 14 Mar. 2025 Instead, opposition parties teamed up to topple him. Helena Alves and Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for topple

Word History

Etymology

frequentative of top entry 3

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of topple was in 1590

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Topple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topple. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

topple

verb
top·​ple ˈtäp-əl How to pronounce topple (audio)
toppled; toppling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce topple (audio)
1
: to fall over from being too heavy at the top
2
: to push over

More from Merriam-Webster on topple

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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