outburst

noun

out·​burst ˈau̇t-ˌbərst 

1

: a violent expression of feeling

an outburst of anger

2

: a surge of activity or growth

new outbursts of creative power

—C. E. Montague

3

: eruption

volcanic outbursts

Synonyms

• agony
• blaze
• burst
• ebullition
• eruption
• explosion
• fit
• flare
• flare-up
• flash
• flush
• gale
• gush
• gust
• paroxysm
• spasm
• storm

Examples of outburst in a Sentence

the judge directed the courtroom spectators to refrain from any outbursts when the verdict was read

there was a remarkable outburst of work in the office as the visiting VIPs made their tour

Recent Examples on the Web

Damon Valdez singled in the fourth run of the inning and singled in a run in the Griffins’ four-run outburst in the sixth. —Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 20 May 2025

William followed up a Day 1 bagel with a 24-point outburst in Day 2, while Bates shot 1 of 6 on the first day but scored 19 points on eight shots on the second day. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 19 May 2025

The Irish added a run in the seventh on a Davis Johnson RBI single, then broke the game open with a five-run outburst in the top of the eighth. —Miami Herald, 18 May 2025

The senior delivered the bases-clearing triple off the right-field fence in the bottom of the fifth inning, extending the Raiders’ lead to 5-1 amid a seven-run outburst and leading to St. Thomas Aquinas’ fifth straight win. —Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outburst

• amerced
• cloudburst
• coerced
• conversed
• disbursed
• dispersed
• headfirst
• immersed
• rehearsed
• reversed
• submersed
• sunburst

Kids Definition

outburst

noun

out·​burst -ˌbərst 

1

: a sudden violent expression of strong feeling

an outburst of anger

2

: a sudden increase in activity or growth