Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words
1

spurt

verb \ ˈspərt \

Definition of spurt

intransitive verb
:to gush forth :spout
transitive verb
:to expel in a stream or jet :squirt
  • the faucet spurts water

Read the Latest from M-W

tycoon
17 English Words that Come From Japanese
one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
The Exceptions Quiz III
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-59ea52ed7b96f
Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Origin and Etymology of spurt

perhaps akin to Middle High German spürzen to spit, Old English -sprūtan to sprout — more at sprout

2

spurt

noun

Definition of spurt

:a sudden gush :jet

First Known Use of spurt

1644

3

spurt

noun

Definition of spurt

1 :a short period of time :moment
2 a :a sudden brief burst of effort, activity, or development
  • a spurt of work
  • a growth spurt
b :a sharp or sudden increase in business activity

Origin and Etymology of spurt

origin unknown

4

spurt

verb

Definition of spurt

intransitive verb
:to make a spurt

First Known Use of spurt

1664

Phrases Related to SPURT

Related Phrases

SPURT Defined for Kids

1

spurt

verb \ ˈspərt \

Definition of spurt for Students

spurted; spurting
:to pour out or make pour out suddenly
  • Water spurted from the leaky hose.
  • His nose spurted blood.
2

spurt

noun

Definition of spurt for Students

:a sudden pouring out
  • a spurt of venom
3

spurt

noun

Definition of spurt for Students

:a brief burst of increased effort, activity, or development

Learn More about spurt

  1. See words that rhyme with spurt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spurt Spanish Central: Translation of spurt Nglish: Translation of spurt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spurt for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up spurt? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

adversity

play

serious difficulty or misfortune

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. imbroglio "a public scandal"

  2. spurious of a deceitful nature or quality

  3. righteous We provide an assortment of definitions

  4. Kafkaesque 'A nightmarish quality'

  5. mike "microphone"

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

  • one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
  • Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59ea52ed7b96f
Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Where did we get 'freshman' and 'sophomore'?

alt-59e900afadac6
The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

In the past, you could invent fruit.

alt-59e8c3440f453
I'll Have the Us(ual)

Shortening 'usual': easy to say, hard to spell

alt-59e77dc36c593
The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

From the front hallways to the back rooms

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots
The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz
knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus
Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game