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.

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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

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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

You may not know you have high blood pressure until something goes wrong and that extra pressure ruptures a blood vessel - like a burst pipe – causing a stroke or a heart attack.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Scientists believe Shalbatana Vallis formed around 3.5 billion years ago after vast amounts of groundwater burst onto the surface.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

Compelling listeners to dance, the song is "a duet of very high musical quality" and "a three-minute burst of drama", Finnish Eurovision expert Anna Muurinen told AFP.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Letters flood in from the fireplace, windows and nearly seem to cause the house to burst.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

I burst out laughing, and he laughs, too.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

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