blow up - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

blow up

to cause something to explodeto cause something to explode

Examples

The sudden impact blew the car up.
The film director will blow a car up for an action scene.
The terrorist attempted to blow the bridge up, but security intervened.

Synonyms

detonate set off explode

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blow up

Third Person

blows up

Present Participle

blowing up

Past Tense

blew up

Past Participle

blown up

1

to cause something to explode

transitive

The sudden impact blew the car up.
The film director will blow a car up for an action scene.
The terrorist attempted to blow the bridge up, but security intervened.
The dynamite was used to blow the tunnel entrance up.

Synonyms:

detonate set off explode

2

to fill with air or gas until something becomes inflated

transitive

Can you blow the beach ball up so we can play at the shore?
Before the children arrive, let's blow the inflatable pool up.
He blew up the balloons for the party decorations.
The children eagerly blew up their beach toys before heading to the water.
He blew up the tires on the bike to the proper pressure.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

3

to make something larger

transitive

He decided to blow up the photograph for the art exhibit.
She blew up the picture to hang it as a poster on the wall.
The designer will blow up the logo for use on the billboard.
They plan to blow up the map to display in the classroom.
He asked the print shop to blow up the family photo for a wedding gift.

Synonyms:

enlarge magnify

Antonyms:

4

to increase in size

As the tire heated up, it began to blow up gradually.
In the heat, the bread dough started to blow up in the oven.
As the tire heated up, it began to blow up gradually.
The hot air balloon slowly began to blow up, lifting off the ground.
The air mattress automatically blew up when opened.

Synonyms:

puff out puff puff up

5

to make something seem larger or more significant than it actually is

transitive

Don't blow the issue up; it's a minor misunderstanding.
The media can sometimes blow up a story for sensationalism.
The controversy blew up after the news broke.
He tends to blow up simple problems into major crises.
The disagreement blew up into a heated argument.

Synonyms:

amplify expand inflate

6

to add additional information or details on a topic

transitive

Can you blow up the email with more information on the event?
The speaker hopes to blow up the talk with thought-provoking insights.
Let's blow up the website content with engaging multimedia.
The scientist aims to blow up the research paper with in-depth findings.
The author wants to blow up the book with more descriptive passages.

Synonyms:

aggrandise dramatize aggrandize dramatise pad embellish lard embroider

7

to become extremely angry and lose control

The situation made her blow up unexpectedly.
The employee blew up after weeks of unresolved issues.
The customer blew up about the poor service.
Don't be surprised if he blows up when he discovers the mistake.
She blew up upon hearing the disappointing news.

Synonyms:

blow a fuse fly off the handle go ballistic combust hit the roof throw a fit flip one's lid have a fit flip one's wig hit the ceiling lose one's temper have kittens blow one's stack

8

to gain sudden and massive popularity, especially online or on social media

Her TikTok dance blew up overnight; now she has a million followers.
That meme blew up so fast, I saw it on every platform within hours.
The video of the dog skateboarding is still blowing up on Instagram.
I hope my post blows up like that one did.
After the interview clip blew up, everyone started quoting her line.