erupt
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to burst forth.
Molten lava erupted from the top of the volcano.
- Synonyms:
- vent
-
(of a volcano, geyser, etc.) to eject matter.
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to break out of a pent-up state, usually in a sudden and violent manner.
Words of anger erupted from her.
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to break out in a skin rash.
Hives erupted all over his face and hands.
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(of teeth) to grow through surrounding hard and soft tissues and become visible in the mouth.
verb (used with object)
-
to release violently; burst forth with.
She erupted angry words.
- Synonyms:
- vent
-
(of a volcano, geyser, etc.) to eject (matter).
verb
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to eject (steam, water, and volcanic material such as lava and ash) violently or (of volcanic material, etc) to be so ejected
-
(intr) (of a skin blemish) to appear on the skin; break out
-
(intr) (of a tooth) to emerge through the gum and become visible during the normal process of tooth development
-
(intr) to burst forth suddenly and violently, as from restraint
to erupt in anger
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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eruptionnoun
-
preeruptverb (used without object)
-
reeruptverb (used without object)
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eruptibleadjective
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uneruptedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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eruptsimple
-
eruptssimple
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have eruptedperfect
-
has eruptedperfect
-
am eruptingprogressive
-
are eruptingprogressive
-
is eruptingprogressive
-
have been eruptingperfect progressive
-
has been eruptingperfect progressive
Past
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eruptedsimple
-
had eruptedperfect
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was eruptingprogressive
-
were eruptingprogressive
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had been eruptingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of erupt
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin ēruptus “burst forth, broken out” (past participle of ērumpere ), equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + ruptus, past participle of rumpere “to break, rupture”; see origin at e- 1, rupture
Explanation
A rash, a volcano, applause, violence, all of these are things that are prone to erupt, meaning they suddenly become active. The word erupt has origins in the Latin word eruptus, the past participle of erumpere, meaning to burst forth. This lively verb can be used to describe anything that is released in a quick, violent burst, such as a bomb exploding or lava spewing forth from a volcano or even laughter. It can also be used to describe the arrival of things that burst through more quietly (but often more painfully), such as a skin condition or a tooth that’s breaking through one's gum.
Vocabulary lists containing erupt
Make a Break for It: Rupt
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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.
See Examples For:
While the two sides have voiced differences over some issues including Tehran's claims to charge fees, there is a growing expectation that the conflict would not erupt again.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
The confrontation did not erupt all at once.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Storms often erupt simultaneously across giant cloud belts that circle the planet, making it difficult to determine which storm produced each signal.
From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026
They erupt in a chorus of cheers and gasps as they watch paper fortunes being made and erased in seconds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
It used to erupt regularly and spectacularly to heights of three hundred feet, but in 1888 it just stopped.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
As she comes up the stairs, the crowd erupts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Near midnight, following Austin Drizzles’ weekly forecast, the church once again erupts into the Unusual Tuesday gospel.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
The study also highlights how major geological faults can strongly influence whether magma erupts or becomes trapped underground.
From Science Daily ● May 14, 2026
Moments later, a bright yellow fireball erupts on the sports hall.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026
An echo of thrilled caws erupts in the massive space.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Angry scenes have erupted outside a court after the family of a woman killed in a triple fatal car crash confronted a garage owner who falsified an MOT just weeks before.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Clashes between the two countries erupted this month over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and has spread to ships, power facilities and bridges across the Persian Gulf and Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
With most eyes on the Summit Fire, which had burned nearly 2,700 acres by Saturday evening, a second fire erupted in the Antelope Valley.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Around 500 firefighters backed by over 20 water-dropping aircraft were batttling the blaze which erupted Thursday in the Gallardos area of the southern region of Andalusia, home to many foreign residents.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
Adiah roared louder as another scream erupted from one of the hallways, this time closer still.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Even so, scientists still cannot say with certainty which volcanic feature is erupting, how deep the active vent originally was, or when it last erupted.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
Similar clashes are erupting nationwide as communities wrestle with privacy rights and the rapid spread of AI-enabled cameras.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The inciting conflict simmered for decades, starting in the late 14th century, before erupting into a series of civil wars lasting more than 30 years.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
Rising fuel prices have caused widespread pain, with protests erupting in Kenya, which like many African countries is dependent on imports from the Gulf and where the public transport system has ground to a halt.
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
We’re standing at the edge of a steep cliff, and in the distance is an erupting volcano!
From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
