burst
burst — verb
1. to suddenly fly apart or spring open, often because something inside is pressing
to suddenly fly apart or spring open, often because something inside is pressing outward, or to push something open by force
The pipe burst during the freeze and flooded the kitchen floor.
subject bursts from pressure inside
Ravi burst the paper bag by stuffing in one more orange.
transitive: burst + object
At noon, the old balloon burst above the school yard.
Firefighters burst the locked door open and carried the boy out.
burst + object + open
After hours in the sun, several tomatoes burst on the windowsill.
- burst open
- burst a pipe
- burst a bag
- balloon bursts
- seal
keep something closed instead of making it fly open
Grammar Patterns
something bursts
burst something open
Usage Note
Often used for things under pressure such as pipes, balloons, bags, or fruit. Unlike sense 5, the focus here is on something breaking apart, not on a person or thing rushing somewhere.
Common Mistakes
2. to move somewhere very suddenly and forcefully, or to appear from a place withou
to move somewhere very suddenly and forcefully, or to appear from a place without warning
Three reporters burst through the door as the minister reached the car.
burst through + barrier
A deer burst out of the trees and crossed the narrow road.
burst out of + place
At six o'clock, students burst from the hall and filled the square.
Without warning, steam burst from the kettle and fogged the window.
subject can be gas, steam, or liquid
The dog burst into the garden after the red ball.
- burst through the door
- burst out of the room
- burst from the trees
- burst into the garden
- drift
move slowly and lightly, not suddenly or forcefully
Grammar Patterns
burst into + place
burst out of/from + place
burst through + barrier
Usage Note
The subject usually moves with speed or force, or suddenly appears from a container, building, or natural cover. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 5 is about movement, not about something breaking.
Common Mistakes
3. (of a river, lake, or canal) to rise so high that water runs across the land at
(of a river, lake, or canal) to rise so high that water runs across the land at the edges
After two days of rain, the river burst its banks near York.
fixed phrase: burst its banks
By dawn, muddy water had burst its banks and covered the road.
Last spring, the canal burst its banks beside the football field.
News cameras arrived when the swollen river burst its banks again.
subject is river or similar water area
- river bursts its banks
- canal bursts its banks
- burst its banks after heavy rain
- recede
water level moves back instead of spreading over land
Grammar Patterns
burst its banks
Usage Note
Used almost entirely in the fixed pattern 'burst its banks'. The subject is a body of water, not the water itself.
Common Mistakes
4. to show a very strong feeling or urge all at once because it can no longer be he
to show a very strong feeling or urge all at once because it can no longer be held back
Hana burst into tears when the nurse removed the bandage.
burst into + emotion noun
At the good news, Diego burst out laughing in the hallway.
burst out + -ing form
Yusuf was bursting to tell his parents about the prize.
be bursting to + verb
During the song, several fans burst into cheers from the back row.
The courtroom burst into applause after the judge thanked the volunteers.
- burst into tears
- burst out laughing
- burst into applause
- be bursting to tell
- erupt
more forceful and often used for anger or conflict
- break down
usually means starting to cry, not laughter or eagerness
- be eager
states the feeling, but lacks the sudden overflowing effect of 'be bursting to'
- hold back
keep the feeling or urge under control
Grammar Patterns
burst into tears/laughter/applause
burst out laughing/crying
be bursting to + verb
Usage Note
This sense strongly prefers patterns such as 'burst into tears', 'burst out laughing', and 'be bursting to tell someone'. Distinguish from sense 5, where someone physically moves somewhere suddenly.
Common Mistakes
5. (of a building, object, or material) to begin burning fiercely in a sudden momen
(of a building, object, or material) to begin burning fiercely in a sudden moment
A dry branch touched the heater, and the curtains burst into flames.
burst into flames
After the gas leak, the rubbish pile burst into flames.
The shed burst into flames before the neighbors found a hose.
Blue flames burst up when hot oil hit the stove.
flames burst up
- burst into flames
- car burst into flames
- shed burst into flames
- ignite
more technical and often used in science or instructions
- catch fire
neutral everyday phrase; less sudden and dramatic than 'burst into flames'
- flare up
often used when flames become stronger very quickly
- go out
stop burning instead of suddenly starting to burn
Grammar Patterns
burst into flames
Usage Note
Usually used of something catching fire instantly, especially in the fixed phrase 'burst into flames'. For an ordinary strong fire that is already burning, compare sense 1 of 'blaze', not this sense of 'burst'.
Common Mistakes
burst in on
phrasal verbTo enter a room or place suddenly and interrupt someone.
Sara burst in on her brother while he was studying.
Did you have to burst in on our private conversation?
burst into
phrasal verbTo suddenly start doing something, especially crying, laughing, or singing.
When she heard the news, she burst into tears.
The audience burst into applause after the performance.
burst on
phrasal verbTo appear or become known suddenly and with great impact.
A new pop star burst on the music scene last year.
The idea burst on the public with surprising speed.
burst onto
phrasal verbTo enter a situation or place suddenly and with energy.
The young athlete burst onto the Olympic stage and won gold.
A new fashion trend burst onto the streets of Tokyo.
burst out
phrasal verbTo suddenly say something loudly or to start laughing or crying.
He burst out laughing at the funny joke.
She burst out crying when she saw the mess.
To be extremely full, especially with people or things.
The small theater was bursting at the seams with excited fans.
Is your closet bulging at the seams with old clothes?
To have a very strong desire to do something that is hard to control.
Maya was bursting to share her secret with her best friend.
The children were bursting to open their birthday presents.
the bubble bursts
idiomA situation where a period of success or happiness suddenly ends.
When the housing bubble burst, many families lost their homes.
The tech bubble burst in 2000, causing huge losses.
To destroy someone's happy or hopeful feelings by telling them the truth.
I hated to burst his bubble, but the concert was sold out.
Don't burst her bubble by saying her plan won't work.
To open suddenly and with force, or to make something open that way.
The door burst open and a dog ran into the room.
Firefighters burst the locked door open to save the cat.
burst — noun
1. a sudden short period when something becomes stronger, faster, louder, or more a
a sudden short period when something becomes stronger, faster, louder, or more active
After lunch, the office had a burst of phone calls from parents.
a burst of + activity noun
Theo finished the race with a last burst of speed.
a burst of speed
There was a burst of applause when the lights came back.
a burst of applause
A burst of laughter came from the back table.
Sales rose in a sudden burst after the TV ad aired.
- a burst of speed
- a burst of laughter
- a burst of applause
- a burst of activity
- lull
a quiet period when activity drops
Grammar Patterns
a burst of + activity/sound/speed/energy
Usage Note
Very common in the pattern 'a burst of + noun', especially with speed, energy, laughter, applause, and activity. Unlike noun sense 1, this sense does not mean something physically broke open.
Common Mistakes
2. a sudden breaking or popping open that lets air, liquid, or what was inside come
a sudden breaking or popping open that lets air, liquid, or what was inside come out
The old water tank failed with a loud burst at midnight.
with a loud burst
We heard a burst from the popcorn bag in the microwave.
The crowd jumped at the sudden burst of the tire on the bridge.
burst of + thing that breaks
A final burst split the balloon and covered the floor with glitter.
- loud burst
- sudden burst
- burst of a tire
- burst from a bag
Grammar Patterns
with a burst
a burst of a pipe/balloon/tire
Usage Note
Often refers to the sound or event of something popping or breaking open. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which is about a short increase in activity or force.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- burstingadjectiveC1
- outburstnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
These words all involve something coming apart, but they point to different kinds of events. 'Break' is the broad everyday word: a cup, a promise, or a machine can all break. 'Burst' is narrower and more physical. It usually suggests pressure inside something, so balloons, pipes, bags, and fruit often burst. 'Split' focuses on a long opening or crack rather than a sudden pop. 'Explode' is stronger and often involves gas, fire, or a violent blast. A paper bag can burst, a stick can split, and a bomb explodes. So you might say 'The balloon burst in the sun,' but 'The glass broke when it fell,' and 'The fuel tank exploded after the crash.'
Common collocations
Etymology
'Burst' comes from Old English 'berstan', a verb meaning to break suddenly or fly apart. It goes back to an older Germanic root linked with cracking, breaking, and springing open under force. English kept the idea of sudden violent opening and later extended it to movement, emotion, fire, and short sharp increases in activity. The noun developed from the verb, so the modern word still carries the same core image of something forcing its way out all at once.