erupt

1 of 3

verb

i-ˈrəpt 

erupted; erupting; erupts

intransitive verb

1

a(1)

: to burst from limits or restraint

(2)

of a tooth : to emerge through the gum

b

: to force out or release suddenly and often violently something (such as lava or steam) that is pent up

c

: to become active or violent especially suddenly : break forth

war could erupt at any moment

the audience erupted in applause

2

: to break out with or as if with a skin eruption

transitive verb

: to force out or release usually suddenly and violently

a volcano erupting lava and ash

eruptible

i-ˈrəp-tə-bəl 

adjective

eruptive

i-ˈrəp-tiv 

adjective

eruptively adverb

eruptive

2 of 3

adjective

erup·​tive -ptiv 

-tēv also -təv

1

a

: erupting or tending to erupt : bursting forth : breaking out

describes a geyser as an intermittently eruptive hot spring

the eruptive imagery of the poem

: having the character of an eruption

a brawl was the first eruptive result of the rising hostility

b

: characterized by eruption

the eruptive stage of smallpox

eruptive letters full of outbursts of anger or joking

2

: producing eruption

an eruptive fever

3

: produced by eruption

—usually used of intrusive rocks (such as granite, diorite, and gabbro) or extrusive rocks (such as rhyolite, andesite, and basalt)

eruptively

-tə̇vlē, 

-li

adverb

eruptiveness

-tivnə̇s, 

-tēv- also -təv-

noun

plural -es

eruptive

3 of 3

noun

"

plural -s

: an igneous rock

Synonyms of erupt

Verb

• eject
• expel
• spit
• emit
• spurt
• spew
• disgorge
• belch

Examples of erupt in a Sentence

Verb

The volcano erupted with tremendous force.

A bitter dispute has erupted among the members of the team.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Surveillance footage obtained by The News shows the explosion erupting on the building’s second floor, sending glass and other debris rocketing across the street. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

That hostility erupted into full view in late May, when demonstrators seeking the bodies of two relatives forced their way into an Ebola treatment facility. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

The San Mateo County Consolidated Fire Department revealed Wednesday that a propane barbecue on an exterior deck of a first-floor unit of the complex at 815 Sea Spray Lane was the origin point of the massive fire that erupted Sunday afternoon. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

Even before the 2025 Southern California fires erupted, the Camp Fire and other major wildfires had generated a circular political debate over how billions of dollars in damages should be apportioned. — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin eruptus, past participle of erumpere to burst forth, from e- + rumpere to break — more at reave

Adjective

eruption + -ive

First Known Use

Verb

1657, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing erupt

• erupt in laughter

Rhymes for erupt

• abrupt
• corrupt
• disrupt
• cupped
• supped
• upped
• interrupt

Kids Definition

erupt

verb

i-ˈrəpt 

1

: to burst forth or cause to burst forth : explode

2

: to break through a surface

teeth erupting from the gum

3

: to break out with or as if with a skin eruption

eruptive

-ˈrəp-tiv 

adjective

Medical Definition

erupt

intransitive verb

i-ˈrəpt 

1

of a tooth : to emerge through the gum

2

: to break out (as with a skin eruption)

eruptive

-tiv 

adjective