blast
blast — verb
1. to wreck or tear apart someone or something with an explosion or another force o
to wreck or tear apart someone or something with an explosion or another force of similar power.
The army blasted the bridge before the enemy reached the town.
blast + object in a destruction sense
Just after dawn, the fuel truck blasted apart beside the barn.
intransitive: something + blast apart
One shell blasted the kitchen wall apart during the night.
blast + object + apart
The cannon blasted the old tower to pieces by noon.
- blast the bridge
- blast apart
- blast to pieces
- vehicle blasted apart
Grammar Patterns
blast + object
blast + object + apart
something + blast apart
Usage Note
Object is usually a building, vehicle, wall, or person. Distinguish from sense 2, where the main result is a hole, path, or opening rather than simple destruction.
Common Mistakes
2. to create a hole, path, or opening with an explosion or some equally violent for
to create a hole, path, or opening with an explosion or some equally violent force.
Engineers blasted a road through the frozen hillside last winter.
blast + road + through + noun
The miners blasted through the rock to reach the trapped men.
blast through + noun
The miners blasted an opening into the side of the hill.
blast + opening
A huge wave blasted a gap in the sea wall.
- blast a hole
- blast a gap
- blast a road through
- blast through rock
- break through
focuses on getting past a barrier, not on the explosive method
- carve
can describe making a path, often more slowly or carefully
- open up
general phrase for making space or an opening
Grammar Patterns
blast + hole/gap/opening
blast + path/road + through + noun
blast through + noun
Usage Note
Usually followed by words such as 'hole', 'gap', 'road', 'tunnel', or 'opening'. If the focus is that something was ruined rather than opened up, use sense 1.
Common Mistakes
3. to make an unpleasantly loud sound, or make sound come out that way.
to make an unpleasantly loud sound, or make sound come out that way.
Someone blasted dance music from the car outside our window.
blast music from a device
The school bell blasted across the empty yard at six.
intransitive: bell + blast
Ravi's alarm clock blasted beside the bed before sunrise.
The speakers blasted so loudly that cups shook on the shelf.
speakers + blast
- blast music
- bell blasted
- alarm blasted
- speakers blasted
Grammar Patterns
blast music
alarm/bell + blast
speakers + blast
Usage Note
Common with music, bells, alarms, radios, and speakers. The object is often a kind of sound or the machine producing it, not the listener.
Common Mistakes
4. to attack a person, idea, or action with fierce public criticism.
to attack a person, idea, or action with fierce public criticism.
Several parents blasted the school for cutting the art program.
blast + object + for + verb-ing
The paper blasted the mayor over the failed housing plan.
blast + object + over + noun
On live radio, callers blasted the new fare increase.
Fans blasted the referee after the late red card.
- blast the mayor
- blast the school for
- blast a plan
- blast over the decision
Grammar Patterns
blast + person/institution
blast + object + for + noun/verb-ing
blast + object + over + noun
Usage Note
Often takes governments, companies, policies, and public figures as objects. This sense is especially common in news reporting and public argument.
Common Mistakes
blast — noun
1. an explosion, often caused by a bomb or other explosive.
an explosion, often caused by a bomb or other explosive.
A blast from the mine shook windows across the valley.
a blast from + place
Two workers were hurt in a blast at the factory gate.
a blast at + place
The film opens with a blast that sends shoppers running from the market.
After the blast, dust covered the street and parked cars.
after the blast
- mine blast
- blast at the factory
- market blast
- after the blast
- explosion
the most general and neutral word
- detonation
more technical and often used for explosives
- burst
can describe a smaller breaking-open event
Grammar Patterns
a blast at + place
a blast from + place
after the blast
Usage Note
Often used for bombs, shells, gas leaks, and mining accidents. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the wave of air or pressure produced by such an event.
2. a forceful wave of wind, gas, or pressure that arrives all at once.
a forceful wave of wind, gas, or pressure that arrives all at once.
A cold blast of air hit us when the train doors opened.
a blast of air
The blast from the fan sent papers across the desk.
blast from + machine
After the bomb went off, a blast knocked hats into the road.
pressure wave after an explosion
A short blast of gas came from the broken pipe.
- blast of air
- blast of gas
- blast from the fan
- cold blast
- gust
used especially for a sudden movement of air or wind
- rush
general word for something moving quickly and strongly
- shock wave
more technical term for pressure moving out from an explosion
Grammar Patterns
a blast of + air/gas
blast from + machine
blast knocked + object
Usage Note
Very often appears in the pattern 'a blast of ...'. It can describe cold air, gas, or the pressure wave near an explosion.
3. a short burst of loud sound, especially from a horn, whistle, or speakers.
a short burst of loud sound, especially from a horn, whistle, or speakers.
A trumpet blast announced the runners at the starting line.
trumpet blast
One blast from the bus horn made the cyclist jump.
one blast from + horn
The referee answered with a sharp blast of the whistle.
a blast of the whistle
A blast from the speakers filled the gym before the match.
- trumpet blast
- blast of the whistle
- blast from the horn
- blast from the speakers
Grammar Patterns
blast of + horn/whistle/trumpet
one blast from + noun
a blast from the speakers
Usage Note
Common in 'a blast of the horn/whistle/trumpet'. The focus is the sound itself, not the instrument or person making it.
4. in games such as soccer, golf, or baseball, a hit or shot struck very hard.
in games such as soccer, golf, or baseball, a hit or shot struck very hard.
Diego sent a blast past the keeper from outside the box.
soccer: send a blast
Her blast from the tee landed near the lake.
golf: blast from the tee
The striker's first-time blast flew over the bar.
One blast off the bat cleared the left-field wall.
baseball: blast off the bat
- a blast past the keeper
- blast from the tee
- first-time blast
- blast off the bat
Grammar Patterns
send/fire a blast
blast from the tee
blast off the bat
Usage Note
Used mainly in sports writing or commentary, especially for soccer, golf, and baseball. It emphasizes force much more than ordinary 'shot' or 'hit'.
5. something like a party or trip that is great fun and full of energy.
something like a party or trip that is great fun and full of energy.
Last night's rooftop party was a real blast for everyone.
be a blast
The class trip to Tainan was such a blast.
such a blast
We had a blast playing cards on the train home.
have a blast
For the twins, the science fair was a blast, not homework.
- have a blast
- a real blast
- such a blast
- party was a blast
- thrill
often suggests excitement more than general fun
- great time
neutral everyday phrase for an enjoyable experience
- treat
suggests a special enjoyable experience
Grammar Patterns
be a blast
have a blast
such a blast
Usage Note
Usually singular after 'a real', 'such a', or 'have a'. This informal sense is strongly positive and does not mean anything about explosions or noise.
Common Mistakes
6. a single email message distributed to a large group together.
a single email message distributed to a large group together.
The company sent a blast to every customer before the sale.
send a blast
An email blast announced the new parking rules to all staff.
email blast
The school office prepared an email blast to all parents that night.
After the storm, the hospital issued an email blast to volunteers.
email blast
- email blast
- send a blast
- blast to customers
- blast to staff
- circular
more formal word for a message sent to many people
- mass email
clear neutral phrase for the same idea
- mailing
can include email or printed messages to a group
Grammar Patterns
send a blast
email blast
blast to + audience
Usage Note
Common in business, school, charity, and event contexts. It is often modified by words like 'email', 'newsletter', or 'marketing', or followed by the audience after 'to'.
Common Mistakes
7. a burst of fierce criticism aimed at someone or something.
a burst of fierce criticism aimed at someone or something.
The minister faced a blast from local doctors after the speech.
a blast from + group
Her post drew a fresh blast of criticism online.
a blast of criticism
The budget cuts brought a blast of criticism from teachers.
bring a blast of criticism
A blast from angry neighbors forced the plan to change.
- blast of criticism
- blast from voters
- bring a blast of criticism
- face a blast
- attack
broad word for strong criticism or opposition
- condemnation
more formal and abstract than 'blast'
- broadside
vivid word for a strong verbal attack
Grammar Patterns
a blast of criticism
a blast from + group
draw/bring a blast of criticism
Usage Note
Often used with 'of' or 'from', as in 'a blast of criticism' or 'a blast from voters'. Distinguish from verb sense 4, which names the act of criticizing.
Something or someone from an earlier time that you encounter again now.
Finding my old school photo was a real blast from the past.
Did that song give you a blast from the past?
(at) full blast
idiomOperating with the highest possible level of sound or power.
Mia played her favorite music at full blast in her room.
The heater was running at full blast to warm the house.
blast — exclamation
1. used to show sudden anger or annoyance.
used to show sudden anger or annoyance.
Blast! I left the tickets on the kitchen table.
Blast! before a full clause
Blast! The printer stopped again during the meeting.
Blast, we took the wrong train after all.
Blast, + clause
Blast! Our last bus has already gone for the night.
- Blast!
- Blast, we missed it
- Blast! I forgot
- Blast! the printer
Grammar Patterns
Blast! + clause
Blast, + clause
Usage Note
Mostly old-fashioned or playful in modern English. Speakers often use it for mild frustration rather than deep anger.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- blasternounC1
- blastingnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For an event where something blows up, 'explosion' is the broad neutral word and fits almost any context. 'Blast' often feels more vivid and can also suggest the force spreading out from the event, especially in news or dramatic description. 'Detonation' is more technical and is used when the explosive device itself matters, such as in military or forensic writing. 'Burst' is wider in meaning: it can describe a tyre, pipe, or balloon splitting open, so it is often smaller and less formal than the other three. You might read about a blast at a factory, a controlled detonation by the police, or a balloon burst at a birthday party.
Etymology
'Blast' comes from an old English word connected with blowing air or breath. From that early idea, English developed the noun for a strong rush of air, then related uses for an explosion, a loud sound, and later a forceful spoken attack. The informal positive noun meaning 'a very enjoyable time' is a much newer figurative use.