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
But the firm also expects what many investors see as an AI bubble to burst next year, leading to a more than 20% drop in the S&P 500 by the end of 2027. Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026 Lots of people are asking whether the massive wave of AI infrastructure spending is a bubble poised to burst. Harvard Business Review, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
This time, the initial burst of chaos came courtesy of Lawrence. Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Stewart, who has now four World Cup titles to her name, had four points during the game-changing burst. ABC News, 13 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
  • After a flurry of fall festival activity in Venice and Telluride, the curtain is coming down on another year at TIFF.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But a flurry of new contracts in 2026 has two more coaches on par with Reid and another pair knocking at the door of $20 million, based on a half-dozen conversations with those familiar with NFL coaching contracts.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 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
  • But Alex Bregman and the rest of the Cubs’ offensive eruption allowed Imanaga to settle into cruise control, which helped give the Cubs a 12-2 blowout of the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
    Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Geology Agency cautioned that volcanic activity remains elevated and the probability of further eruptions is still high.
    Niniek Karmini, Los Angeles Times, 9 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 24 Sep. 2026.

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