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.
-
to break out of a pent-up state, usually in a sudden and violent manner.
Words of anger erupted from her.
-
to break out in a skin rash.
Hives erupted all over his face and hands.
-
(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
-
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
-
eruptionnoun
-
preeruptverb (used without object)
-
reeruptverb (used without object)
-
eruptibleadjective
-
uneruptedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
eruptsimple
-
eruptssimple
-
have eruptedperfect
-
has eruptedperfect
-
am eruptingprogressive
-
are eruptingprogressive
-
is eruptingprogressive
-
have been eruptingperfect progressive
-
has been eruptingperfect progressive
Past
-
eruptedsimple
-
had eruptedperfect
-
was eruptingprogressive
-
were eruptingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 11
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
All seven members - Maya, Juria, Hinata, Harvey, Cocona, Chisa and Jurin - are dressed in vibrant neon outfits that erupt with tufts of faux fur and intricate belt buckles.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Because options cost far less than shares, a trading frenzy is expected to erupt as investors gamble on SpaceX’s stock.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 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
Even in Spanish, the word makes a rash erupt on the backs of her hands.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
In this traditional view, low-density magma gradually accumulates within the crust, increasing pressure until the surrounding rock fractures, collapses, and ultimately erupts.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 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
As Jalla thunders towards its climax, it erupts amid what is presumably Cyprus's entire stock of pyrotechnics.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
A passage in which an argument erupts over which nearby shop sells the best donuts, for instance, descends into absurdity when Mr. Eddy suddenly rises from his state of near-unconsciousness to offer his opinion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
“Your whole skin erupts in heat. It only lasts while the thing is pointed at you, but...it’s not pleasant, honey. And there are a lot of people here.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Before the conflict erupted, the BOE thought inflation would fall below its 2% target this year and investors had anticipated rate cuts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 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 -- supported by water-dropping aircraft -- were still battling the blaze, which erupted Thursday in the Gallardos area, home to many foreign residents.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
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
An hour and twenty minutes after the mountain had first erupted, the cloud cleared enough for Don Swanson to get his first, sustained look at the top of what was left of Mount St. Helens.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
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
A "de-confliction cell", between the parties and the Lebanese authorities has also been agreed to prevent fighting from erupting again, they said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026
The confession results in confusion and anger erupting like molten lava from all sides, instantly corroding Emma’s bond with Charlie and her relationships with their friends.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2026
She trembled and seemed on the verge of erupting when she was struck by inspiration.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
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.
