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explodieren
to explode
To burst suddenly and with great force due to a chemical reaction or high internal pressure.
example
Die alte Fabrikhalle ist bei dem Brand explodiert.
The old factory building exploded during the fire.
explodieren
to explode
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Auxiliary verb in the perfect tense
The perfect tense of 'explodieren' (to explode) is always formed with 'sein', because it describes a sudden change of state. So it is 'ist explodiert', not 'hat explodiert'.
EXAMPLE
Die Gasflasche ist wegen der großen Hitze explodiert.
The gas cylinder exploded because of the intense heat.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the subject: physical objects (bomb, engine) explode literally. Abstract things (prices, costs) rise sharply. People explode with anger or laughter.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachfrage nach den neuen Konsolen ist förmlich explodiert.
Demand for the new consoles has practically exploded.
Typical collocations
In the figurative sense, 'explodieren' (to explode) is often used for economic or statistical data. Typical combinations are 'die Kosten explodieren' (costs explode), 'die Preise explodieren' (prices explode), or 'die Zahlen explodieren' (the numbers explode).
EXAMPLE
Nach der Krise sind die Energiekosten für viele Haushalte explodiert.
After the crisis, energy costs exploded for many households.
Use with emotions
When a person 'explodiert' (explodes), the triggering emotion is indicated with the preposition 'vor' (+ dative). The most common phrases are 'vor Wut explodieren' (to explode with anger) or, less commonly, 'vor Lachen explodieren' (to explode with laughter).
EXAMPLE
Mein Chef ist heute Morgen vor Wut explodiert, weil der Bericht nicht fertig war.
My boss exploded with anger this morning because the report wasn't finished.
Compare with
explodieren vs steigen
to rise / climb
'steigen' and 'explodieren' can both be used with numbers, costs, or quantities. 'steigen' only says that something is increasing; that can be slow, normal, or strong. 'explodieren' is figurative and much stronger: it means that something rises suddenly and very sharply. Learners may confuse the words because both fit with prices or numbers. If you want to stay neutral, use 'steigen'. If you want to emphasize that the change is extreme, 'explodieren' fits.
explodieren
Nach der Krise sind die Kosten für Energie fast explodiert.
After the crisis, energy costs almost exploded.
steigen
Die Preise für Lebensmittel steigen langsam weiter.
Food prices continue to rise slowly.
In real life
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