cave-in
/ˈkāv-ˌin How to pronounce cave-in (audio)/ (ame, mw)
cave-in — noun
1. a sudden inward collapse of a roof, road, wall, or similar surface
a sudden inward collapse of a roof, road, wall, or similar surface
Rescuers reached the mine two hours after the cave-in trapped twelve workers.
after a cave-in — event noun
A cave-in blocked the mountain road just before the school buses arrived.
cave-in + blocked [route]
Dust poured through the tunnel after a cave-in broke the support beams.
The mayor closed the station because the cave-in weakened the old floor.
- collapse
A broader word that can describe many kinds of falling down, not only inward failure.
- subsidence
More technical and often used for land sinking slowly rather than one sudden break.
文法句型
a cave-in
after a cave-in
cave-in + verb
用法筆記
Usually names the collapse event itself, not the hole left behind. It often appears with places such as mines, roads, tunnels, or old buildings and with time phrases like 'after the cave-in'.
2. a hole or low area left after the ground drops into empty space below
a hole or low area left after the ground drops into empty space below
Children were warned to keep away from the cave-in beside the old well.
keep away from the cave-in
Rainwater collected in a deep cave-in at the edge of the field.
deep cave-in
Workers marked the cave-in with tape before the repair crew arrived.
A fresh cave-in formed near the footpath after last night's storm.
- sinkhole
A more specific word for a deep hole formed when ground gives way.
- depression
Can mean any low area in the ground and is less vivid than 'cave-in'.
- pit
A general word for a hole, without the idea of collapse causing it.
文法句型
a cave-in
deep cave-in
cave-in near/by + place
用法筆記
This sense names the damaged place you can point to on the ground, not the moment of collapse. It often appears with words about depth, size, location, or warning signs around the area.
cave-in — phrasal verb
- cave-inbase form
- cave-ins3rd person singular
- cave-ining-ing form
- cave-inedpast simple
1. if a roof, tunnel, or piece of ground caves in, part of it gives way and falls t
if a roof, tunnel, or piece of ground caves in, part of it gives way and falls toward the middle
Part of the school roof caved in during the night storm.
subject: roof + cave in
The old tunnel caved in after weeks of heavy rain.
cave in after + cause
When the riverbank caved in, three trees slid into the water.
Fire crews ran back when the burned ceiling suddenly caved in.
文法句型
[roof/tunnel/ground] + cave in
cave in after + cause
用法筆記
Usually takes a physical structure or piece of ground as the subject. It is intransitive, and speakers often add a cause or time phrase such as 'after heavy rain' or 'during the storm'.
2. to stop resisting and do what others want after repeated pressure or argument
to stop resisting and do what others want after repeated pressure or argument
After two hours of arguing, the manager caved in and changed the schedule.
cave in and + verb
Nadia refused the discount at first but caved in to the sales pressure.
cave in to + pressure
The council finally caved in and reopened the playground gates.
Hassan never wanted a dog, but he caved in after the children begged.
- hold firm
Means continue resisting without changing position.
- stand up to
Stresses active resistance against pressure or demands.
文法句型
cave in to + pressure/demands
cave in and + verb
用法筆記
Often takes 'to' before the demand or pressure, or 'and + verb' before the action you finally agree to do. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about people or groups giving up resistance, not structures falling down.