erupt

[ih-ruhpt]

verb (used without object)

1. to burst forth.

   Molten lava erupted from the top of the volcano.

   Synonyms: vent

2. (of a volcano, geyser, etc.) to eject matter.

3. to break out of a pent-up state, usually in a sudden and violent manner.

   Words of anger erupted from her.

4. to break out in a skin rash.

   Hives erupted all over his face and hands.

5. (of teeth) to grow through surrounding hard and soft tissues and become visible in the mouth.

verb (used with object)

1. to release violently; burst forth with.

   She erupted angry words.

   Synonyms: vent

2. (of a volcano, geyser, etc.) to eject (matter).

erupt

/ ɪˈrʌpt /

verb

1. to eject (steam, water, and volcanic material such as lava and ash) violently or (of volcanic material, etc) to be so ejected

2. (intr) (of a skin blemish) to appear on the skin; break out

3. (intr) (of a tooth) to emerge through the gum and become visible during the normal process of tooth development

4. (intr) to burst forth suddenly and violently, as from restraint

   to erupt in anger

Other Word Forms

• eruptible adjective
• preerupt verb (used without object)
• reerupt verb (used without object)
• unerupted adjective
• eruption noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of erupt¹

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”; e- ¹, rupture

Word History and Origins

Origin of erupt¹

C17: from Latin ēruptus having burst forth, from ērumpere, from rumpere to burst

Example Sentences

The November 10 blast erupted near a busy metro station close to the Red Fort in Old Delhi, where the prime minister delivers the annual Independence Day address.

Read more on Barron's

A volcano in southern Japan erupted early Sunday sending a plume of ash and smoke into the sky and prompting a warning over ashfall.

Read more on Barron's

Social media erupted with debate, memes and condemnation.

Read more on Salon

Those tensions erupted after the 1994 genocide of the Tutsis over the border in Rwanda, fuelling a cycle of bloody conflict in the eastern DRC that continues to this day.

Read more on Barron's

The 2018 power-sharing agreement that ended the war has been fraught with challenges, as tensions persist and sporadic violence continues to erupt.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• appear 
• blow up 
• break out 
• burst 
• detonate 
• explode 
• go off 
• spew