burst

1 of 2

verb

burst also bursted; bursting

intransitive verb

1
: to break open, apart, or into pieces usually from impact or from pressure from within
the balloon burst
the pipes burst
2
a
: to give way from an excess of emotion
my heart will burst
b
: to give vent suddenly to a repressed emotion
burst into tears
burst out laughing
3
a
: to emerge or spring suddenly
burst out of the house
burst onto the scene
burst into flames
b
: launch, plunge
burst into song
4
: to be filled to the breaking point
bursting with excitement
a crate bursting with fruit

transitive verb

1
: to cause to burst
burst a balloon
2
a
: to force open (something, such as a door or a way) by strong or vigorous action
b
: to flood over
the river burst its banks
3
: to produce by or as if by bursting

burst

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a sudden outbreak
a burst of flames
especially : a vehement outburst (as of emotion)
b
: explosion, eruption
a burst of violence
c
: a sudden intense effort
a burst of speed
d
: the duration of fire in one engagement of the mechanism of an automatic firearm
bursts of machine-gun fire
2
: an act of bursting
the burst of a bubble
a burst of confidence
3
: a result of bursting
had the plumber fix the burst
especially, firearms : a visible puff accompanying the explosion of a shell (see shell entry 1 sense 9b)
Phrases
burst at the seams
: to be larger, fuller, or more crowded than could reasonably have been anticipated

Examples of burst in a Sentence

Verb Two of the water pipes burst. He burst a blood vessel. The doors suddenly burst open. The cops burst the door open. He burst into the room. The sun burst through the clouds. She burst through the door and yelled “Surprise!”. Noun She ran hard in short bursts toward the end of the race. the burst of a bubble See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Colorful sparks burst in harmony, leaving guests in awe of the spectacle that painted the night sky. Maia Torres, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023 On this day two decades ago, The Bernie Mac Show burst onto the small screen, introducing audiences to the comedic brilliance of the late, great Bernie Mac. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 Nov. 2023 The group entered a devastated area north of Gaza City via the border fence that Hamas terrorists burst through on Oct. 7. NBC News, 6 Nov. 2023 But as the Huskies tried to punt, Robinson burst through the line in a blazing bit of redemption, overwhelming the punter. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023 From stretchy yoga pants to cozy top layers, and even relaxed-fitting jumpsuits, the retailer’s sale section is practically bursting at the seams with versatile apparel that will secure your spot as the best dressed traveler from the airport to the streets of your destination. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2023 Eve burst onto the scene as the Ruff Ryders’ First Lady in 1999. Essence Beauty Editors, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023 The cranberries will pop and burst, and the sauce will thicken and glisten. Aleksandra Crapanzano / Photographs By F. Martin Ramin/the Wall Street Journal, Food Styling By Kim Ramin , WSJ, 10 Nov. 2023 As a dating app founded by a woman and designed for women, Bumble burst onto the scene as a breath of fresh air. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2023
Noun
Still, in 2005, an M&M balloon swung out of control from sudden wind bursts and hit a light pole in Times Square, injuring two people. Winnie Hu Emma Rose Milligan, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023 Most scotch whisky is aged in used barrels, predominantly ex-bourbon, and the use of virgin oak tends to give the liquid a burst of flavor with notes of oak, vanilla, gentle smoke, and stone fruit. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023 Advertisement One of the seniors in the group can’t help but share her burst of African pride. Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023 The Rooms Climbing the stairs to my 970-square-foot tree house suite felt like entering Eden — swaying palms and bursts of bright yellow flowers provided ample privacy while offering glimpses of the sea from the spacious, wraparound terrace. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2023 At times, Udu barked or screamed into the mic for emotional effect, the lyrics garbled in a burst of post-teenage angst. Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2023 The eight-billion-year-old burst is more than half the universe’s age, which is about 13.7 billion years. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2023 Lincoln got the ball first in the second OT and after three runs by Jackson, Donald Reed III put the Hornets up 45-38 with a 13-yard burst up the middle. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023 Your body expels a forceful burst of air through your nose and mouth, getting rid of foreign invaders. Health Editorial Team, Health, 10 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'burst.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bersten, from Old English berstan; akin to Old High German brestan to burst

Noun

derivative of burst entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of burst was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near burst

Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burst. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

burst

1 of 2 verb
burst; bursting
1
a
: to break open or in pieces (as by an explosion from within)
the balloon burst
buds bursting open
b
: to cause to burst
2
a
: to suddenly show one's feelings
burst into tears
b
: to begin to do something suddenly
burst into song
3
: to come or go suddenly
burst into the room
4
: to be filled to the breaking point
just bursting with energy

burst

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sudden release or effort
a burst of speed
2
: a firing of many shots at the same time

More from Merriam-Webster on burst

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