TOP

Definition of topple verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

topple

verb
 
/ˈtɒpl/
 
/ˈtɑːpl/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they topple
 
/ˈtɒpl/
 
/ˈtɑːpl/
he / she / it topples
 
/ˈtɒplz/
 
/ˈtɑːplz/
past simple toppled
 
/ˈtɒpld/
 
/ˈtɑːpld/
past participle toppled
 
/ˈtɒpld/
 
/ˈtɑːpld/
-ing form toppling
 
/ˈtɒplɪŋ/
 
/ˈtɑːplɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive, transitive] to become unsteady and fall down; to make something do this
    • + adv./prep. The pile of books toppled over.
    • He toppled backwards into the river.
    • topple somebody/something + adv./prep. He brushed past, toppling her from her stool.
  2. [transitive] topple somebody/something to make somebody lose their position of power or authority synonym overthrow
    • a plot to topple the President
    Extra Examples
    • She led a campaign to topple the regime.
    • The armed forces toppled the elected government in a bloodless coup.
    • The church played an important role in toppling the Communist order in Poland.
  3. Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘tumble about’): frequentative of the verb top.
See topple in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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