Phrase guide

fall apart

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To disintegrate, to break into pieces.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • My old briefcase is falling apart. I'll have to buy a new one.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be emotionally in crisis.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • As a result of being addicted to heroin, she was falling apart.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To separate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

become separated into pieces or fragments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The figurine broke
  • The freshly baked loaf fell apart

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: break, separate, split up, come apart

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change integrity

Narrower terms: burst, split, break open, puncture, bust, smash, ladder, run, snap, crack, break up, fragment, fragmentize, fragmentise, crush

5

verb

Meaning 5

break or fall apart into fragments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The cookies crumbled
  • The Sphinx is crumbling

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crumble

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disintegrate

6

verb

Meaning 6

go to pieces

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The lawn mower finally broke
  • The gears wore out
  • The old chair finally fell apart completely

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: break, wear, wear out, bust

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decay, crumble, dilapidate

Narrower terms: fray, frazzle

7

verb

Meaning 7

lose one's emotional or mental composure

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She fell apart when her only child died

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go to pieces

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: break down, lose it, snap

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: распада́цца (raspadácca) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Belarusian: распа́сціся (raspáscisja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Belarusian: разва́львацца (razválʹvacca) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Belarusian: развалі́цца (razvalícca) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Dutch: uiteenvallen — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Dutch: uit elkaar vallen — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Dutch: instorten — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Finnish: hajota — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • French: tomber en morceaux — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • German: auseinanderfallen — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Hebrew: התפרק (hitparék) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Hebrew: מט לנפול — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Hungarian: szétesik — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Hungarian: szétjön — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Hungarian: széthullik — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Hungarian: darabokra esik/hullik — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Italian: cadere a pezzi — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Latin: dīlābor — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Middle English: spryngen — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Polish: rozpadać się — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Polish: rozpaść się — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Portuguese: cair aos pedaços — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Russian: распада́ться (raspadátʹsja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Russian: распа́сться (raspástʹsja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Russian: разва́ливаться (razválivatʹsja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Russian: развали́ться (razvalítʹsja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Spanish: despedazarse — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Spanish: desintegrarse — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Spanish: deshacerse — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Spanish: desvencijarse — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Ottoman Turkish: پارچهلانمق (parçalanmak) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Ukrainian: розпада́тися (rozpadátysja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Ukrainian: розпа́стися (rozpástysja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Ukrainian: розва́люватися (rozváljuvatysja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Ukrainian: розвали́тися (rozvalýtysja) — disintegrate, break into pieces
  • Dutch: instorten — be emotionally in crisis
  • Finnish: murtua — be emotionally in crisis
  • German: zusammenbrechen — be emotionally in crisis
  • Hebrew: התמוטט (hitmotét) — be emotionally in crisis
  • Hungarian: szétesik — be emotionally in crisis
  • Hungarian: kikészül — be emotionally in crisis
  • Hungarian: összeomlik — be emotionally in crisis
  • Italian: andare a rotoli — be emotionally in crisis
  • Central Kurdish: لەناوچوون (lenawçûn) — be emotionally in crisis
  • Russian: разва́ливаться (razválivatʹsja) — be emotionally in crisis
  • Russian: развали́ться (razvalítʹsja) — be emotionally in crisis
  • Spanish: venirse abajo — be emotionally in crisis
  • Turkish: altüst olmak — be emotionally in crisis