detonate meaning

detonate as a verb

1. cause to burst with a violent release of energy
   • We exploded the nuclear bomb

   Synonyms: explode, blow up, set off

   Type of: change integrity

   Kinds: fulminate, dynamite

   Related forms: detonative, detonation, detonator

2. burst and release energy as through a violent chemical or physical reaction
   • the bomb detonated at noon
   • The Molotov cocktail exploded

   Synonyms: explode, blow up

   Related forms: detonative, detonation

detonate in a sentence

• We're going to detonate the bomb in a few moments.
• Damiano detonated the explosives at the factory.
• Jonas detonated the explosives and the ship was blown into pieces.
• The bomb didn't detonate.
• The bombs were detonated by remote control.

How to pronounce detonate

detonate is pronounced /ˈdɛtəneɪt/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.