Definition of burstnext
1
as in to explode
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded

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2
as in to shatter
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat

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3
as in to bulge
to be copiously supplied a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent

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burst

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of burst
Verb
However, the Bengals’ defense came through with a big shift of momentum, as Dexter Lawrence burst through the offensive line and tackled Texans running back David Montgomery to turn the ball over on downs as Houston couldn’t find the line to gain. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026 But that all changed when the streaming bubble burst on Wall Street in April 2022. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
The September full moon, commonly known as the harvest moon, is almost here, bringing a fiery burst of energy as the fall season gets underway. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 Designers showed their Spring/Summer 2027 collections, emphasizing minimalism, transparency, bursts of lime and marigold and warm-weather silhouettes like culotte and capri bottoms. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burst
Verb
  • After buying one pack of 60 clips, my tomato plants exploded in both height and growth.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Demand exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdowns kept people at home and online orders boomed.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Delicately beautiful, with big emotions and a dramatic flair, the cosseted Vivien’s world was shattered at the age of six, when she was sent to be raised in a convent in England.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Revived fighting shattered a 2022 ceasefire as Houthis strike Saudi cities, oil facilities and shipping, declare a blockade and claim growing power.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Her bulging eyes, her piercing shrieks, her casual yet immaculately articulate cruelty all come together to form a cartoonish villain who’s also a commanding delight.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This duality isn’t immediately obvious in the woman who greets me at her door in New York City with a bulging plastic bag of breakfast food and a wide, open smile.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The announcements underscore Alibaba's growing push into the machinery behind the AI boom, amid a flurry of AI infrastructure investments by its Western tech peers as the race for computing power intensifies.
    — Jenny Lee,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The two Democrats have exchanged a flurry of critiques throughout the campaign.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the explosion occurred during an unspecified operation near the military demarcation line in the western section of the border buffer zone, commonly known as the DMZ.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion, and later some saw a plume of smoke near the airport.
    — Tucker Reals, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • If the caldera had collapsed after the eruption, the landslide deposits should lie on top of the pyroclastic layers.
    — Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Charred to a crisp during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in AD 79, hundreds of papyrus scrolls lie tucked away unread in Italy’s National Library of Naples.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Sadiq said two attackers detonated explosives inside the compound Saturday morning and that police had killed six assailants so far, not including the bombers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Jentleson compares the power of fusing race and these questions of fairness to detonating a nuclear warhead.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The image of babies smashed to bits is likely to arouse protests like Abraham’s.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The helicopter crashed in a driveway between two warehouses, smashing into a pair of truck cargo containers while the news crew tried grabbing video footage of a serious collision involving a Metro bus that also left two people dead.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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