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
  • Launched in 2004, the $364-million observatory is designed to pivot quickly — as its name suggests — to capture gamma ray bursts, exploding stars and other fast-breaking cosmic action.
    — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Launched in 2004, the $364 million observatory is designed to pivot quickly -- as its name suggests -- to capture gamma ray bursts, exploding stars and other fast-breaking cosmic action.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This trust, known as the presumption of regularity, has been shattered, and a growing number of judges have expressed frustration and alarm.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Crows pecked at both the living and the dead crabs, and cars shattered the shells into tiny fragments.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 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
  • The missile, called a PrSM—for precision-strike missile—detonates midair and spreads thousands of small tungsten fragments in all directions.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
  • In December 2023, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the main gate of a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, killing at least 23 security personnel in one of the area’s deadliest attacks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Video footage from the scene showed rubble strewn across the street, with parked cars smashed by falling debris.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Who could forget the omelettes, pancakes, French toast and smashed potatoes loaded with cheese, onions, peppers and eggs or meat?
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burst. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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