burst
The balloon burst when it touched the sharp needle.
The balloon broke open violently due to the needle's point.
to break open or apart suddenly and violently, often due to internal pressure
The pipe burst because of the freezing temperatures.
The pipe split open unexpectedly due to water expanding in the cold.
She burst into tears when she heard the bad news.
She suddenly started crying intensely upon receiving the news.
Commonly used for physical objects (balloons, pipes) or emotional outbursts (tears, laughter).
to move suddenly or forcefully
The crowd burst through the gates after the concert ended.
The crowd rushed out forcefully through the gates.
Often implies a sudden, energetic movement.
a sudden outbreak or increase
There was a burst of applause after her speech.
The audience clapped loudly and suddenly after she finished speaking.
Refers to a brief, intense occurrence of something (laughter, applause, energy).
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish burst vs. break
'Burst' implies suddenness and often violence due to internal pressure (e.g., a balloon bursting). 'Break' is more general and can refer to any separation or fracture, not necessarily sudden or violent.
Gold Rule
Irregular verb
Remember that 'burst' is irregular: its past and past participle forms are identical to the base verb (burst-burst-burst).
Word Origin
Old English 'berstan' (to break, split), from Proto-Germanic '*brestaną', related to Dutch 'barsten' and German 'bersten'. The noun sense emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
As a verb, 'burst' is irregular: burst-burst-burst. It often implies a violent or sudden action. The noun form typically refers to a sudden release or outbreak of something (e.g., energy, emotion, or physical force).