rup·ture
ˈrəp(t)-shər 
1
: breach of peace or concord
specifically
: open hostility or war between nations
2
a
: the tearing apart of a tissue
rupture of the heart muscle
rupture of an intervertebral disc
b
: hernia
3
: a breaking apart or the state of being broken apart
Examples of rupture in a Sentence
Noun
A rupture in the pipeline resulted in major water damage.
a rupture of an artery
an infection that could cause rupture of the eardrum
The conflict caused a rupture in relations between the former allies.
They're trying to heal the rupture in their relationship.
Verb
The pipe ruptured because of high water pressure.
High water pressure ruptured the pipe.
The impact ruptured his liver.
The scandal ruptured relations between the two countries.
The crime ruptured the peace of a small town.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The visibility of so many Latinos at pro-Palestinian actions in Southern California represents a historic rupture in the longstanding political alliance between Latinos and Jews, who lived side by side on the Eastside for decades.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
As reports surfaced of women being denied treatment for premature ruptures and ectopic pregnancies, Hughes sent a letter to the state medical board, suggesting that physicians were at fault.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2024
The type of stroke that occurs after a brain aneurysm ruptures is called a hemorrhagic stroke.
—USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Bad River members asked Conley in May to force Enbridge to shut down parts of Line 5 across their reservation, arguing that erosion posed an immediate risk of rupture and contamination.
—Todd Richmond, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024
As the shaking calmed on Friday, scientists began working to pinpoint where exactly the rupture occurred.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
More sensors in those areas would mean less lag time between the rupture and its detection.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The city official said the ship hit adjacent bridge piers, leading to the rupture of the bridge deck over the space between the piers.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
Water covered part of the facility's floor because the crash ruptured a fish tank, DeYoung said.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024
Pieces of plaque can also rupture and travel to other parts of your body, causing a stroke.
—Knvul Sheikh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024
Vital vessels can be ruptured, causing catastrophic bleeding; the liver can be lacerated; the heart can be perforated.
—Helen Ouyang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Ten years ago after hopping a wall while on duty, Timmins ruptured two discs in his back.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
This is called meconium ileus, and in the worst cases, the intestines can rupture.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
The amniotic sac usually ruptures during labor or delivery.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024
Data show that ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3-5% of all new strokes, the BAF says.
—USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
Image Some analysts think the Gaza war has the potential to create the same kind of political and social ruptures in Israel that the Yom Kippur war did.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The visibility of so many Latinos at pro-Palestinian actions in Southern California represents a historic rupture in the longstanding political alliance between Latinos and Jews, who lived side by side on the Eastside for decades.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
As reports surfaced of women being denied treatment for premature ruptures and ectopic pregnancies, Hughes sent a letter to the state medical board, suggesting that physicians were at fault.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2024
The type of stroke that occurs after a brain aneurysm ruptures is called a hemorrhagic stroke.
—USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
Bad River members asked Conley in May to force Enbridge to shut down parts of Line 5 across their reservation, arguing that erosion posed an immediate risk of rupture and contamination.
—Todd Richmond, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024
As the shaking calmed on Friday, scientists began working to pinpoint where exactly the rupture occurred.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
More sensors in those areas would mean less lag time between the rupture and its detection.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The city official said the ship hit adjacent bridge piers, leading to the rupture of the bridge deck over the space between the piers.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Stellantis has recalled thousands of Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 cars because of a manufacturing defect that could cause airbags to rupture unexpectedly, resulting in metal fragments flying out, potentially killing passengers.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
Water covered part of the facility's floor because the crash ruptured a fish tank, DeYoung said.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024
Pieces of plaque can also rupture and travel to other parts of your body, causing a stroke.
—Knvul Sheikh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024
Vital vessels can be ruptured, causing catastrophic bleeding; the liver can be lacerated; the heart can be perforated.
—Helen Ouyang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Ten years ago after hopping a wall while on duty, Timmins ruptured two discs in his back.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
This is called meconium ileus, and in the worst cases, the intestines can rupture.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
The amniotic sac usually ruptures during labor or delivery.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024
Data show that ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3-5% of all new strokes, the BAF says.
—USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rupture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rupture
Cite this Entry
“Rupture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rupture. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rupture
2 of 2 verb
ruptured; rupturing
Medical Definition
rupture
2 of 2 verb
ruptured; rupturing
-chə-riŋ, -shriŋ
: to produce a rupture in
rupture an eardrum
: to have or undergo a rupture
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