burst

American  

[burst] / bɜrst /

verb (used without object)

burst, bursted, bursting

1. to break, break open, or fly apart with sudden violence.

   The bitter cold caused the pipes to burst.

   Synonyms:

   explode, crack

2. to issue forth suddenly and forcibly, as from confinement or through an obstacle.

   Oil burst to the surface. He burst through the doorway.

3. to give sudden expression to or as if to emotion.

   to burst into applause; to burst into tears.

4. to be extremely full, as if ready to break open.

   The house was bursting with people.

5. to appear suddenly; become visible, audible, evident, etc., all at once.

   The sun burst through the clouds.

---

verb (used with object)

burst, bursted, bursting

1. to cause to break or break open suddenly and violently.

   He burst the balloon.

   Synonyms:

   tear, rend

2. to cause or suffer the rupture of.

   to burst a blood vessel.

3. to separate (the parts of a multipart stationery form consisting of interleaved paper and carbon paper).

noun

1. an act or instance of bursting.

2. a sudden, intense display, as of activity, energy, or effort.

   The car passed us with a burst of speed.

   Synonyms:

   spurt

3. a sudden expression or manifestation, as of emotion.

   a burst of affection.

   Synonyms:

   outbreak

4. a sudden and violent issuing forth.

   a burst of steam from the pipe.

   Synonyms:

   outbreak

5. Military.

   1. the explosion of a projectile, especially in a specified place.

      an air burst.

   2. a rapid sequence of shots fired by one pull on the trigger of an automatic weapon.

      A burst from the machine gun shattered all the windows.

6. the result of bursting; breach; gap.

   a burst in the dike.

7. a sudden appearance or opening to view.

idioms

1. burst at the seams, to be filled to or beyond normal capacity.

   This room will be bursting at the seams when all the guests arrive.

burst British  

/ bɜːst /

verb

1. to break or cause to break open or apart suddenly and noisily, esp from internal pressure; explode

2. (intr) to come, go, etc, suddenly and forcibly

   he burst into the room

3. (intr) to be full to the point of breaking open

4. (intr) to give vent (to) suddenly or loudly

   to burst into song

5. to cause or suffer the rupture of

   to burst a blood vessel

---

noun

1. a sudden breaking open or apart; explosion

2. a break; breach; rupture

3. a sudden display or increase of effort or action; spurt

   a burst of speed

4. a sudden and violent emission, occurrence, or outbreak

   a burst of heavy rain

   a burst of applause

5. a volley of fire from a weapon or weapons

adjective

1. broken apart; ruptured

   a burst pipe

Other Word Forms

• burster
  noun
• nonbursting
  adjective
• unburst
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of burst

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bersten, bursten, Old English berstan (past plural burston ), cognate with Old High German brestan ( German bersten ), Old Norse bresta; akin to break

Explanation

A burst is a sudden flurry of activity. Bursts of energy are helpful in shoveling heavy snow, but it's better if you work steadily instead of shoveling fast and stopping. As a verb, burst is your go-to action word to describe something sudden and energetic happening. It usually means, "to explode outward, with noise" like if you burst into song in the middle of study hall, startling everyone. It also means, “to split open in a violent way due to internal pressure” like an overfilled water balloon. It comes from the Old English word berstan, meaning "break suddenly."

Example Sentences

The fast-food company has spent years plotting its beverage expansion, including tests of Sour Cherry Energy Burst and Blackberry Mint Green Tea drinks at the company’s short-lived concept called CosMc’s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

"Revealing the Environment of the Most Distant Fast Radio Burst with the Hubble Space Telescope" will take place at 2:15 p.m.

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2024

CosMc’s appears set to offer iced drinks, spiced lattes and sugary confections with names like Sour Cherry Energy Burst, Island Pick-Me-Up Punch and S’More’s Cold Brew.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2023

Labour says vapes sold by the firm - such as Blue Razz Lemonade, Strawberry Mousse and Rainbow Burst - are clearly aimed at children.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2023

I eye them until I find what I’m looking for—a Speed Burst.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• barrage
• blowout
• crack
• eruption
• explosion
• flare
• fusillade
• gust
• outbreak
• outpouring
• rush
• salvo
• shower
• spate
• spurt
• storm
• surge
• torrent
• volley