rupture

1 of 2

noun

rup·ture ˈrəp(t)-shər

Synonyms of rupture next

: breach of peace or concord

specifically : open hostility or war between nations

: the tearing apart of a tissue

rupture of the heart muscle

rupture of an intervertebral disc

: hernia

: a breaking apart or the state of being broken apart

rupture

2 of 2

verb

ruptured; rupturing ˈrəp(t)-sh(ə-)riŋ

transitive verb

: to part by violence : break, burst

: to create or induce a breach of

: to produce a rupture in

intransitive verb

: to have or undergo a rupture

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Smith, of Chattanooga, had health insurance through his job with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, but the insurance company refused to pay for the surgery necessary to prevent a life-threatening rupture. —

Anna Werner Wernera@cbsnews.com, CBS News, 9 May 2023 Miedema remains the league's all-time goalscorer on 78 goals, but is currently out injured for the remainder of the season with a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament. —

Asif Burhan, Forbes, 2 Apr. 2023 The abrupt rupture is jeopardizing data on climate change, oceanography, and ecology that stretch back decades. —

Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 3 May 2023 Miller’s character, the titular superhero also known as Barry Allen, appears to have created a rupture in the space-time continuum, giving way for another Multiverse of Madness comic-book movie. —

Vulture, 3 May 2023 Training ahead of last summer's UEFA Women's Euro at Bisham Abbey, Putellas suffered a rupture to the anterior cruciate ligament of her left knee which put her out of the tournament she was expected to excel in. —

Asif Burhan, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023 Once again, all of the coolant on board a Russian spacecraft leaked into space due to a rupture. —

Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2023 The operator explained that a weld flaw caused a crack in the pipe that continued to get worse over time because of stress and fatigue from bending, eventually leading to the sudden rupture of the pipe. —

Joe Sutton, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 One told of an ectopic pregnancy that was allowed to grow on a scar left by a previous cesarean section – which can cause uterine rupture, hemorrhage and death. —

Laura Ungar And Heather Hollingsworth, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Nov. 2022

Verb

In 2002, just before going onstage in Orillia, Mr. Lightfoot collapsed when an aneurysm in his abdominal aorta ruptured and left him near death. —

William Grimes, New York Times, 2 May 2023 Even needed a fifth year in high school after rupturing his spleen following a bout with mononucleosis. —

Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 29 Apr. 2023 Last September, a series of four explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines — which run from Russia to Germany — close to the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, releasing more than 100,000 tonnes of methane into the sea and the atmosphere. —

Katharine Sanderson, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2023 In the early morning of April 1, the earth ruptured deep within the Aleutian Trench 90 miles south. —

Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Mar. 2023 In 1936, the North Anatolian fault ruptured beneath Marmara Sea, which also led to tens of thousands of deaths. —

Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2023 In a crash, unstable ammonium nitrate propellant can ignite with too much force and in turn rupture its metal housing, sending shrapnel-like pieces of metal into the vehicle. —

Keith Laing, Fortune, 12 May 2023 The rocket ruptured the side of the aircraft, causing 3,200 pounds of jet fuel to begin leaking and catch fire. —

Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 9 May 2023 Serena's condition led her to have an intense coughing fit, which caused her c-section scar to rupture. —

Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 2 May 2023 See More

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.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ruptur, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French rupture, from Latin ruptura fracture, from ruptus, past participle of rumpere to break — more at reave

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of rupture was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rupture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rupture. Accessed 6 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

rupture

1 of 2 noun

rup·ture ˈrəp-chər

: a break in peaceful or friendly relations

: a breaking or tearing apart (as of body tissue)

a rupture in an artery

: hernia

rupture

2 of 2 verb

ruptured; rupturing

: to part by violence : break

: to produce a rupture in

: to have a rupture

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ruptur "a breach of the peace," from early French rupture "a breach of the peace" or Latin ruptura "fracture, break," from Latin ruptus, past participle of rumpere "to break" — related to corrupt, interrupt