belly up

VERB

collapse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

break cave in crumple disintegrate drop fail faint fall down founder give way shatter topple weaken

STRONG

bend deflate droop exhaust flag fold give go languish subside succumb tire weary wilt yield

WEAK

conk out crack up flake out give in give out go to pieces keel over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accomplish achieve fix mend straighten strengthen succeed

STRONG

activate create energize grow increase inflate invigorate refresh rise withhold

WEAK

build

ADJECTIVE

kaput

Synonyms

WEAK

all washed up burned out cooked dead destroyed done for down and out down for the count down the drain down the tubes finished floored had it nonfunctioning on the skids out of business out of circulation sunk totaled washed up wiped-out

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Spirit has become the largest U.S. carrier to go belly up in years.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

I belly up to the counter and call for my usual.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

Flip around a tarantula so it’s belly up and you’ll be met with sizable fangs.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2025

Will I lose my disability benefits if Social Security goes belly up?

From MarketWatch • Oct. 14, 2025

A dead perch lolling belly up in the clear water.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy