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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Netflix’s Love Is Blind became a total phenomenon that rivaled The Bachelor at its prime, and Peacock’s Love Island burst onto the mainstream this summer to become a sensation that completely took over the internet, if not the world. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025 Patrick Kelly burst onto the Paris fashion scene in the 1980s, becoming the first American and the first Black designer inducted into the prestigious Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter. Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Sony a7 and a6000 series bodies don't support 15fps burst rates, so the restriction isn't relevant for them. PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025 The mechanism operates much like a slingshot, storing energy before releasing it in a rapid burst to propel the tongue toward prey. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burst

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burst. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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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