To topple means to fall over or cause something to fall over, usually from being tall, unbalanced, or pushed. A stack of blocks topples when it gets too high and wobbles before crashing down. A tree might topple in a strong windstorm, its roots no longer able to hold it upright.

The word captures that specific moment when something tall or upright loses its balance and tips over. Picture a tower of books on your desk: as you add more books, it starts to lean, and then suddenly the whole stack topples to one side. Unlike a gentle fall, toppling suggests height and the drama of something coming down with force.

People also use topple when talking about powerful leaders or governments being removed from power. When citizens topple a dictator, they're overthrowing someone who seemed firmly in control. The word works well here because it suggests that even something that looked solid and permanent can come crashing down when enough force pushes against it. Kings have been toppled from their thrones, champions have been toppled from their winning positions, and records have been toppled by new achievements.