Burst — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbərst/

Meaning & Definition of Burst

Burst (verb)

  1. to break open, apart, or into pieces usually from impact or from pressure from within
  2. to give way from an excess of emotion
  3. to give vent suddenly to a repressed emotion

Burst (noun)

  1. a sudden outbreak; especially, a vehement outburst (as of emotion)
  2. explosion, eruption
  3. a sudden intense effort

Burst (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure

    "the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded"

    similar: blow, blow up, crump, detonate, explode, go off, pop
    related: fragment, shatter, smash, splinter, discharge, fire, shoot, balloon, burgeon, mushroom
    opposite: implode
    near: collapse, fizzle

  2. 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"

    similar: blast, blow, blow up, demolish, explode, pop, shatter, smash
    related: dynamite, annihilate, decimate, destroy, ruin, wreck, detonate, discharge, fragment, splinter
    near: collapse, implode

  3. to be copiously supplied

    "a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent"

    similar: abound, brim, bristle, bulge, bustle, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem
    near: lack, need, want

Burst (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity

    "a sudden burst of industriousness whenever the boss appeared"

    similar: flare, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, spurt
    related: recrudescence, recurrence, renewal, binge, jag, spree, boost, increase, pickup, upswing, upturn, epidemic, eruption, explosion, paroxysm, deluge, flood, rush, spate, surge, volley, commotion, furor, uproar
    near: calm, doldrums, slump

  2. a sudden intense expression of strong feeling

    "a burst of anger that startled the other members on the panel"

    similar: agony, blaze, ebullition, eruption, explosion, fit, flare, flare-up, flash, flush, gale, gush, gust, outburst, paroxysm, spasm, storm
    related: blowup, grouch, rage, tantrum, ecstasy, rapture, transport, delirium, firestorm, frenzy, furor

  3. the act or an instance of exploding

    "one burst after another could be heard in the distance"

    similar: blast, blowup, bursting, detonation, eruption, explosion, outburst
    related: discharge, firing, shooting, blowout, flare-up, bang, boom, pop, airburst, groundburst

Related Entry: Burst (forth) (verb)

Burst (forth) is a different word from Burst. The synonyms below are for burst (forth), not for burst.

  1. to develop suddenly and violently

    "hives burst forth on the child's arms and face whenever she goes near that plant"

    similar: blaze (up), break out, erupt, explode, flame, flare (up)
    related: rocket, skyrocket, balloon, burgeon, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, snowball, swell, wax, blow up, detonate, touch off

Related Entry: Burst (in or into) (verb)

Burst (in or into) is a different word from Burst. The synonyms below are for burst (in or into), not for burst.

  1. as in barge (in), breeze (in)

    similar: barge (in), breeze (in), waltz (in), access, enter, penetrate, pierce, drop in, pop (in), stray (into), wander (into), crash, encroach, gate-crash, infiltrate, infringe, intrude, invade, trespass
    opposite: depart, exit, leave

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Burst

The most common words with a similar meaning to Burst:

blow, blow up, crump, detonate, explode, go off, pop, blast, demolish, shatter, smash, abound, brim, bristle, bulge, bustle, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem, flare, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, spurt, agony, blaze, ebullition, eruption, explosion, fit, flush, gale

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Burst

Words with the opposite meaning of Burst:

implode

Related Words for Burst

fragment, splinter, discharge, fire, shoot, balloon, burgeon, mushroom, dynamite, annihilate, decimate, destroy, ruin, wreck, recrudescence, recurrence, renewal, binge, jag, spree, boost, increase, pickup, upswing, upturn, epidemic, deluge, flood, rush, spate

Near Antonyms of Burst

collapse, fizzle, lack, need, want, calm, doldrums, slump

Word Forms of Burst

Inflections: bursted, bursting

Origin & Etymology of Burst

Middle English bersten, from Old English berstan; akin to Old High German brestan to burst

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Burst

Words & Phrases Containing Burst

burst at the seams, burst someone's bubble, burst in on, burst into, burst into tears, burst out, burst out laughing, gamma-ray burst

Frequently Asked Questions about Burst

What does "Burst" mean?

"Burst" means to break open, apart, or into pieces usually from impact or from pressure from within. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to break open, apart, or into pieces usually from impact or from pressure from within. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Burst"?

Other words for "Burst" include blow, blow up, crump, detonate, explode, go off, pop and blast. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Burst" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Burst"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Burst". Common alternatives include blow, blow up, crump, detonate, explode, go off, pop, blast, demolish and shatter.

What is the opposite of "Burst"?

Antonyms of "Burst" include implode. Near antonyms include collapse, fizzle, lack and need.

How do you use "Burst" in a sentence?

Examples of "Burst" in a sentence: "the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded"; "finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat"; "a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent".

Is "Burst" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Burst" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Burst" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Burst" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Burst"?

"Burst" is pronounced /ˈbərst/.