demolish
gb/dɪmˈɑlɪʃ/ us/dɪmˈɑlɪʃ/
B2
English
lebont, leiskoláz, megcáfol, befal
VERB
B2
1
lebont
B1
Usage pattern:
demolish [a building/structure]
The city plans to demolish the old theater and build apartments on the site.
A város azt tervezi, hogy lebontja a régi színházat, és a helyén lakásokat épít.
They had to demolish the damaged bridge after the flood.
Az árvíz után le kellett bontaniuk a megrongálódott hidat.
The warehouse was demolished to make room for a new highway.
Learner examples
They will demolish the old house.
Le fogják bontani a régi házat.
The building was demolished last year.
Az épületet tavaly lebontották.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with demolish = 'damage a little'; it usually means destroy completely.
Meaning
tear down a building
Collocations
demolish a building
|demolish a house
|demolish a bridge
|demolish a wall
|demolish a stadium
|demolish an old factory
|be demolished
|plan to demolish
|demolish and rebuild
|demolish with explosives
Synonyms
tear down (Common and neutral, often for buildings.)
|
knock down (More informal; often for a house or wall.)
|
raze (More formal; suggests total destruction.)
|
flatten (Emphasizes reducing something to the ground.)
Antonyms
build (Do the opposite by creating a structure.)
|
construct (More formal/technical than build.)
|
restore (Repair and return a building to a former condition.)
Themes
construction
|housing
|cities
Definition
To completely destroy a building and remove it.
To destroy a building or other structure completely, especially by pulling it down or using heavy machinery or explosives.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
2
leiskoláz
C1
Usage pattern:
demolish [an opponent/team]
Our team demolished their rivals 6–1.
A csapatunk 6–1-re leiskolázta a riválisait.
She demolished the field in the final round and won easily.
A döntő körben leiskolázta a mezőnyt, és könnyedén nyert.
They got demolished in the second half.
Learner examples
We demolished the other team.
Leiskoláztuk a másik csapatot.
They were demolished 4–0.
4–0-ra leiskolázták őket.
Common mistake:
This meaning is metaphorical; it does not involve physical destruction.
Meaning
defeat someone very easily
Collocations
demolish the opposition
|demolish a rival
|demolish a team
|demolish an opponent
|demolish them 5–0
|get demolished
|be demolished by
|demolish in the final
|demolish in a debate
|demolish at home
Synonyms
crush (Very common; emphasizes dominant victory.)
|
trounce (Strong, slightly more formal than crush.)
|
thrash (Informal; common in British English for sports.)
|
rout (Often used for decisive sports or military defeats.)
Antonyms
lose to (Be defeated by the other side.)
|
edge (Win only by a small amount.)
Themes
sports
|competition
Definition
To win against someone by a lot.
To defeat someone or a team completely and easily in a competition, game, or contest.
VERB
C1
3
megcáfol
B2
Usage pattern:
demolish [an argument/claim/theory/case]
The report demolished the claim that the product was safe.
A jelentés megcáfolta azt az állítást, hogy a termék biztonságos.
In the interview, she calmly demolished his argument with facts.
Az interjúban tényekkel nyugodtan megcáfolta az érvelését.
New data has demolished the theory that the disease was seasonal.
Learner examples
The scientist demolished the old idea.
A tudós megcáfolta a régi elképzelést.
Facts demolished his claim.
A tények megcáfolták az állítását.
Common mistake:
Demolish here means 'refute strongly,' not just 'disagree.'
Meaning
prove an argument is wrong
Collocations
demolish an argument
|demolish a claim
|demolish a theory
|demolish a myth
|demolish a case
|demolish the evidence
|demolish criticism
|easily demolish
|completely demolish
|demolish in debate
Synonyms
refute (Direct and formal; focused on proving wrong.)
|
debunk (Common for exposing false beliefs or claims.)
|
dismantle (Metaphorical; suggests taking an argument apart piece by piece.)
|
disprove (Often used for showing something is not true with evidence.)
Antonyms
support (Provide reasons or evidence in favor of something.)
|
substantiate (Prove that a claim is true or valid.)
Themes
education
|media
|debate
Definition
To show clearly that an idea is wrong.
To show that an idea, claim, or argument is completely wrong or weak, especially by criticizing it with strong evidence or reasoning.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
4
befal
B1
Usage pattern:
demolish [food/meal]
He demolished two slices of pizza before anyone else sat down.
Mire bárki más leült volna, már befalt két szelet pizzát.
After the hike, we demolished a huge lunch.
A túra után befaltunk egy hatalmas ebédet.
The kids demolished the cookies in minutes.
Learner examples
I demolished my sandwich.
Befaltam a szendvicsemet.
She demolished the pizza.
Befalta a pizzát.
Common mistake:
This is informal and usually about eating quickly, not just finishing food.
Meaning
eat something very quickly
Collocations
demolish a pizza
|demolish a burger
|demolish a plate of food
|demolish dinner
|demolish a sandwich
|demolish a whole cake
|demolish a big breakfast
|demolish a meal
|demolish snacks
|demolish a bowl of pasta
Synonyms
devour (Common; strong sense of eating eagerly.)
|
wolf down (Informal; emphasizes speed.)
|
scarf down (Very informal; emphasizes speed, often American English.)
|
polish off (Informal; emphasizes finishing completely.)
Antonyms
nibble (Eat in small bites, slowly.)
|
pick at (Eat very little, without appetite.)
Themes
food
|daily_life
Definition
To eat a lot very fast.
To eat food very quickly and enthusiastically.
Grammar
Dictionary form
demolish
IPA
GB/dɪmˈɑlɪʃ/
US/dɪmˈɑlɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
de - mol - ish (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mol)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: demolish
- 3rd Person Singular: demolishes
- Present Participle: demolishing
- Past: demolished
Word family
Forms
demolishes
verb
demolishing
verb
demolished
verb
Core family
demolition
noun B2
Related words
demolisher
noun
Expressions
demolish and rebuild
1/dɪmˈɑlɪʃ ˈænd ɹibˈɪld/
fixed phrase
tear down and build again
To destroy an old building and build a new one.
Examples
- They decided to demolish and rebuild the house rather than renovate it.
- The developer will demolish and rebuild the entire complex in phases.
Learner examples
- They will demolish and rebuild the old house.
demolish to the ground
1/dɪmˈɑlɪʃ tə ðə ɡɹˈaʊnd/
fixed phrase
destroy completely to nothing
To destroy a building completely.
Examples
- The old hotel was demolished to the ground in a single afternoon.
- They demolished the unsafe structure to the ground after the earthquake.
Learner examples
- The building was demolished to the ground.