burst

[ burst ]

/ bɜrst /

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See synonyms for: burst / bursting / bursts on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), burst or, often, burst·ed, burst·ing.

to break, break open, or fly apart with sudden violence: The bitter cold caused the pipes to burst.

to issue forth suddenly and forcibly, as from confinement or through an obstacle: Oil burst to the surface. He burst through the doorway.

to give sudden expression to or as if to emotion: to burst into applause; to burst into tears.

to be extremely full, as if ready to break open: The house was bursting with people.

to appear suddenly; become visible, audible, evident, etc., all at once: The sun burst through the clouds.

verb (used with object), burst or, often, burst·ed, burst·ing.

to cause to break or break open suddenly and violently: He burst the balloon.

to cause or suffer the rupture of: to burst a blood vessel.

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

noun

an act or instance of bursting.

a sudden, intense display, as of activity, energy, or effort: The car passed us with a burst of speed.

a sudden expression or manifestation, as of emotion: a burst of affection.

a sudden and violent issuing forth: a burst of steam from the pipe.

Military.

the explosion of a projectile, especially in a specified place: an air burst.
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.

the result of bursting; breach; gap: a burst in the dike.

a sudden appearance or opening to view.

OTHER WORDS FOR burst

1 crack, explode.

6 rend, tear.

10 spurt.

11, 12 outbreak.

See synonyms for burst on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about burst

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.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM burst

non·burst·ing, adjective, nounun·burst, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH burst

burst , bust

Words nearby burst

burseed, burseraceous, bursicon, bursiform, bursitis, burst, burst at the seams, burster, bursting point, bursting strength, burst into

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use burst in a sentence

Astrophysicists had thought that if a magnetar ever exploded, it would release one of the highest bursts of energy ever seen in the universe.
Exploding neutron star proves to be energy standout of the cosmos|Lisa Grossman|February 12, 2021|Science News For Students
If you’re active in short bursts, a reusable, chemically activated option might be right for you.
Best hand warmers: Block the chill during your favorite winter activities|PopSci Commerce Team|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science
Another line of evidence against a sudden lake burst is that “there were no lakes of any size visible” in the satellite images taken over the region.
Three things to know about the disastrous flood in India|Carolyn Gramling|February 9, 2021|Science News
Apart from the occasional burst of energy, which propels me through a flurry of cooking, the joy has seeped from my kitchen.
Love, Loneliness, and the Chicken in My Freezer|Elazar Sontag|February 9, 2021|Eater

Maryland responded, building a six-point advantage, but Ohio State followed the same script with a quick burst of three-pointers and led 35-30 by halftime.
Maryland misses a chance to boost its NCAA tournament hopes with a loss to No. 4 Ohio State|Emily Giambalvo|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
The gunman then burst from the restaurant and fled down the street with the other man.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Within a few swipes, I was already feeling that burst of romantic optimism you need the first day of the (Christian) new year.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“So, about good for one tactical burst,” the first Air Force official said.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People will always scratch and save if a sudden burst of unrestrained pleasure can be purchased.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was in the bathroom, perhaps trying to flush some pot down the toilet, when a cop burst in.
‘I Can’t Breathe!’ ‘I Can’t Breathe!’ A Moral Indictment of Cop Culture|Michael Daly|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He burst into a loud laugh, clapped his hands, and danced before the delighted babe.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
After a moment's silence, the cavaliers both burst into a gay laugh.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
A burst of indignation within seemed to do more for him than the outward buffetings.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Some hidden magnetism burst from him like an aura, and his cold pasty face and light gray eyes flamed into positive beauty.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
It burst upon them ere long with awful fury and grandeur, the elements warring with incredible vehemence.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for burst

burst

/ (bɜːst) /

verb bursts, bursting or burst

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

(intr) to come, go, etc, suddenly and forciblyhe burst into the room

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

(intr) to give vent (to) suddenly or loudlyto burst into song

to cause or suffer the rupture ofto burst a blood vessel

noun

a sudden breaking open or apart; explosion

a break; breach; rupture

a sudden display or increase of effort or action; spurta burst of speed

a sudden and violent emission, occurrence, or outbreaka burst of heavy rain; a burst of applause

a volley of fire from a weapon or weapons

adjective

broken apart; ruptureda burst pipe

Derived forms of burst

burster, noun

Word Origin for burst

Old English berstan; related to Old Norse bresta, Old Frisian bersta, Old High German brestan; compare break

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

burst

OTHER WORDS FOR burst

Idioms about burst

Origin of burst

OTHER WORDS FROM burst

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH burst

Words nearby burst

Words related to burst

How to use burst in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for burst

Derived forms of burst

Word Origin for burst