crack

KRAK/kɹæk/

Pluralcracks

Verbcracks, cracking, cracked

45 meanings of crack

Practice

1
hairline splitnouncountable
A thin gap or split that opens up in something hard, like a wall or a cup.
Like the thin split you see when a plate is dropped but does not fall apart.
A crack ran down the side of the old mug.
There was a small crack in the window after the storm.
UsageSay a crack in something: a crack in the cup.
Similarcrevice, fissure
2
verbintransitive
To break so that thin lines or splits appear, or to make something break this way.
Like dry mud splitting into lines under the hot sun.
The old paint began to crack in the hot sun.
The dry soil cracked during the long drought.
Similarsplit, fracture
Note
3
break openverbtransitive
To break open or into pieces, or to break something open by hitting it.
Like smashing a nut to get the inside out.
She cracked the walnut with a small hammer.
Crack the eggs into the pan before you stir them.
UsageSay crack an egg into a bowl, or crack a nut open.
Similarbreak, smash, split
4
cocainenoununcountable
A strong, cheap, and very addictive form of the drug cocaine, usually smoked as small rocks.
Police found a small bag of crack during the search.
He spent everything he had on crack.
UsageFormal writing often says crack cocaine.
Note
5
solveverbfigurativelytransitive
To find the answer to a hard problem.
Like finding the last piece that finishes a puzzle.
The detectives finally cracked the case last week.
Can you crack this puzzle before lunch?
UsageSay crack the case or crack the code. I've cracked it! means you found the answer.
Similarsolve, decipher, decode, break, unravel
Note
6
defeat a lockverbtransitive
To get past a lock or security system, such as a safe, a password or the protection on software.
Like finding the secret key that opens a locked door.
It took the thief an hour to crack the safe.
Hackers cracked the bank's security system last night.
Similarbypass, defeat
7
attemptnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A try at doing something.
Like taking your turn to try something yourself.
Let me have a crack at fixing the bike.
She took a crack at the puzzle but gave up.
UsageSay have a crack at something: try to do it.
Similartry, go (entry), shot, stab, attempt
8
tell (a joke)verbtransitive
To tell a joke, or to say something quick and funny.
He cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
She likes to crack jokes during long car rides.
UsageUsually crack a joke or crack jokes.
Similartell, make
9
first-rateadjective
Very skilled, or among the very best of its kind.
Like the top player everyone wants on their team.
She is a crack shot with a rifle.
He's a crack chess player who almost never loses.
UsageComes before a noun: a crack shot.
Similarexpert, first-rate, excellent, accomplished, ace
Oppositemediocre, incompetent, inept
Note
10
sharp soundnouncountableonomatopoeic
A short, sharp, loud sound, like a whip or something hard breaking.
Like the snap you hear when you break a dry stick.
We heard a loud crack as the branch broke.
The crack of the bat told us he hit the ball hard.
UsageSay the crack of a whip or a gun.
Similarsnap, pop, bang, clap, clack
11
piracy toolnouncountable
A program or trick used to get past the locks or limits on software.
Like a fake key that opens a lock it was never meant to open.
He downloaded a crack to unlock the full version of the game.
Using a crack to bypass the license is illegal.
UsageSay a crack for a program.
Similarhack
Note
12
verbcolloquialtransitive
To just manage to reach a certain number, level or list.
The temperature didn't crack 50 degrees all week.
Her new book cracked the bestseller list in its second week.
UsageOften didn't crack or never cracked a number or list.
Similarmake, reach, break
Note
13
nouncountable
A narrow opening or gap between two things.
Like the thin gap left when a door is not shut all the way.
She peeked through the crack in the door.
Light came in through a crack between the curtains.
Similargap, chink, slit, opening, crevice
Note
14
open slightlyverbtransitive
To open something just a little bit.
Could you crack the window to let in some air?
She cracked the door to peek inside.
UsageSay crack the window to open it a little.
Similaropen
Oppositeclose, shut
15
give inverbintransitive
To give in or fall apart under pressure, for example by telling a secret when questioned, or to make someone do this.
Like a branch that finally snaps after being bent too far.
The suspect finally cracked after hours of questioning.
Some people crack the moment they feel afraid.
Similarbreak, cave, crumble, buckle, snap

Less common meanings

16
open (drink)verbcolloquialtransitive
To open a can or package of food or drink.
Like popping open a soda on a hot day.
Let's crack a can of beans for lunch.
After the long hike, we each cracked a cold soda.
UsageSay crack a can or crack open a can.
Similaropen, pop
Note
17
verbintransitive
To make a short, sharp sound, like a stick breaking.
We heard the whip crack across the field.
The fire cracked and popped all night.
Similarsnap, crash
Note
18
hit hardverbtransitive
To hit something hard.
Like bringing a hammer down with one quick, hard blow.
The falling branch cracked him on the head.
Be careful not to crack your elbow on the doorframe.
UsageSay crack someone on the head.
Similarhit, strike, whack, smack, bash
19
voice breakverbintransitive
When a voice cracks, it suddenly goes high or breaks, from strong feeling or as a boy grows up.
Like a note that suddenly jumps high and then drops low.
My brother's voice began to crack the year he turned thirteen.
Teenage boys' voices often crack as they grow older.
UsageA voice can crack with emotion.
Similarbreak, waver
20
snap (sound)verbtransitive
To make something give a sharp, sudden sound.
Don't crack your knuckles during the meeting.
She cracked the whip to start the race.
UsageSay crack your knuckles. Crack the whip also means make people work hard.
Similarsnap, pop
21
between buttocksnouncolloquialcountable
The narrow space between a person's buttocks.
The plumber bent over and his crack showed above his jeans.
She pulled her shirt down to cover her crack.
UsagePeople often say butt crack to be clear.
Similarbuttcrack
Note
22
addictive treatnounslangfigurativelyhumorousuncountable
Something so tasty or fun that you can't seem to stop.
Like candy you keep eating even after you said you'd stop.
These cookies are pure crack. I can't stop eating them!
That new show is total crack. We watched it all weekend.
UsageSay pure crack for food you can't stop eating or a show you can't stop watching.
Note
23
hard blownouncountable
A hard, sudden hit that makes a loud sound.
Like the loud snap when you break a stick in two.
She gave the nail a sharp crack with the hammer.
He felt a crack on the back of his head and fell.
Similarblow, smack, whack, rap, thump
Note
24
nouncountable
A sudden break in someone's voice, from strong feeling or as a young person's voice changes.
Like a singer who suddenly squeaks when reaching for a note.
There was a clear crack in the boy's voice during the play.
I heard a crack in her voice when she said goodbye.
UsageSay a crack in her voice.
Similarbreak, quaver, waver
Note
25
mocking remarknouncountable
A quick, funny, and slightly mean comment.
He made a crack about my messy desk.
Her crack about the food made everyone laugh.
UsageSay make a crack about something.
Similardig, jibe, quip, wisecrack, joke
26
good companynoundialectalIrelandNorthern EnglandScotlanduncountable
Fun, good talk, news, and a good time with others.
Like the warm, happy feeling of laughing with friends.
The party was great crack from start to finish.
We had good crack chatting late into the night.
UsageSay good crack for fun and talk. Also spelled craic.
Similarcraic, jollity, joviality, bonhomie
Note
27
verb
To break large molecules into smaller ones using heat.
28
verb
To find out for yourself that you are trans.
29
verbobsolete
To talk about yourself with too much pride.
And Æthiopes of their ſweet complexion crack.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”
30
verbarchaic
To fail or be spoiled.
31
verbslang
To sleep with someone.
32
nounslang
A rude word for a woman's private parts.
33
noundialectalIrelandNorthern EnglandScotland
News or what is happening, as in 'what's the crack?'.
34
noundatedUS
A spreading ring of white water above a big underwater blast.
35
noundialectalCumbria
A friendly talk.
36
noun
Very silly or crazy ideas or writing.
37
nounarchaic
A little bit of madness.
38
nounarchaic
Someone who seems mad.
39
nounobsolete
Talk that brags about yourself.
D'ye hear wha's coming to cow yere cracks?
1814, Walter Scott, Waverley
40
nounobsolete
A loss of sexual purity.
But thinke her bond of Chaſtity quite crack'd, I hauing 'tane the forfeyt.
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”
41
nounobsolete
A lively, cheeky boy.
Indeed la, tis a noble childe. / - A Cracke Madam.
c. 1608, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”
42
noundatedUK
A very short moment.
43
noundated
An attempt to flirt with someone.
The eyes of my sisters who fear my crack^* [footnote] Before the popularization of the term "crack" as a drug, its common usage in the Black community referred to men publicly cruising and approaching women.
1987, Joseph Beam, “Creating Myself from Scratch: Living as a Black Gay Man in the 1980s”
44
nounobsolete
Dry wood for a fire.
45
nounobsolete
A person who is very good at something, or a winning racehorse.
1st Gent. What dost think, Jockey? / 2nd Gent. The crack o' the field's against you.
1888, James Shirley, Hyde Park

More uses

crack a smileto smile, even a little
crack a bookto open a book and start studying
crack upto start laughing, or to make someone laugh

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of crack apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–8, 10–26

From Old English cracian, meaning 'to crack' or 'to make a loud noise'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Crack derives from Old English cracian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English cracian meant ‘to crack’ or ‘to make a loud noise’. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 9

Slang first recorded in 1793, perhaps from the verb meaning to do something quickly or cleverly, or to speak boastfully.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The slang use is first recorded in 1793. en.wiktionary.org
One proposed origin is the verb meaning to do something quickly or cleverly. en.wiktionary.org
Another proposed origin is the verb meaning to speak boastfully. en.wiktionary.org