irrupt
Americanverb (used without object)
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to break or burst in suddenly.
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to manifest violent activity or emotion, as a group of persons.
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(of animals) to increase suddenly in numbers through a lessening of the number of deaths.
verb
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to enter forcibly or suddenly
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(of a plant or animal population) to enter a region suddenly and in very large numbers
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(of a population) to increase suddenly and greatly
Other Word Forms
- irruption noun
- unirrupted adjective
Etymology
Origin of irrupt
1850–55; < Latin irruptus; irruption
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.
The impulse thus given, uninterruptedly propagated itself to the primitive country of the Fins, on the banks of the Ural, whence irrupted a torrent of Huns, Avars, Chasars, and divers mixtures of Asiatic races.
From Project Gutenberg
It seemed as if the very bowels of the earth had shaken themselves and irrupted.
From Project Gutenberg
Now, the Vedic Aryans appear in history at just the period when they are on the move southwards into India; but they are no irrupting host.
From Project Gutenberg
Into these not unpleasant musings Mr. Jason Vandervelde irrupted himself, with the astounding request that she come with him now, immediately, to a hospital where a girl unknown to her prayed to see her.
From Project Gutenberg
The plain surface of the corium has now become broken up, and what is noticed is that the broken-up appearance is due to the epithelial cells irrupting and advancing en échelon into its connective tissue.
From Project Gutenberg
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.
