burst
gb/bˈɚst/ us/bˈɚst/
B1
English
~ 9900
kipukkad, kiszakad, szétreped, kitör valamiben, sírva fakad, kitörés, lendület, löket, beront, kiront, tele van valamivel, majd szétvet valakit valami, zsúfolásig tele van, kipukkaszt, kiszakít, szétrepeszt
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] bursts
The balloon burst with a loud pop as it touched the hot light.
A lufi hangos pukkanással kipukkadt, amikor hozzáért a forró izzóhoz.
A water pipe burst under the street and flooded several houses.
Egy vízcső szétrepedt az utca alatt, és a víz több házat is elárasztott.
Her suitcase burst open on the platform and all her clothes fell out.
The dam finally burst and released a huge wall of water.
Learner examples
The red balloon burst in the hot sun.
A piros lufi kipukkadt a tűző napon.
The plastic bag burst and the apples rolled on the floor.
A műanyag zacskó kiszakadt, és az almák szétgurultak a padlón.
The old tyre burst while he was driving to work.
The bottle burst when it hit the hard ground.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "bursted" as the past tense. The correct forms are: present "burst", past "burst", and past participle "burst" (for example, "Yesterday the balloon burst"). Learners may also confuse "burst" and "explode"; "burst" is more common for small things like balloons, pipes, or bags.
Meaning
break open suddenly from pressure
Collocations
the balloon burst
|the pipe burst
|burst open
|burst a tyre
|bubble burst
|burst at the seams
Synonyms
explode (Usually stronger, louder, and used for serious events like bombs or big accidents.)
Antonyms
remain intact (Emphasizes that something does not break or open at all.)
Themes
daily life
|physics
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To open or break suddenly and loudly, often because there is too much air, water, or something else inside.
To break open or apart suddenly and violently, usually because of internal pressure or being too full, often causing what is inside to come out.
VERB
B2
2
sírva fakad
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] bursts into [noun]
She burst into tears when she heard the bad news.
Sírva fakadt, amikor meghallotta a rossz hírt.
The audience burst into applause at the end of the concert.
A koncert végén a közönség tapsviharban tört ki.
The car burst into flames seconds after the crash.
He read the message and burst into laughter.
Learner examples
When he saw his mother, he burst into tears.
Amikor meglátta az anyját, sírva fakadt.
The crowd burst into loud applause after the show.
A tömeg hangos tapsban tört ki az előadás után.
The dry grass burst into flames very quickly.
Everyone burst into laughter when she told the joke.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "burst into" with "burst in". Use "burst into" followed by a noun to show a sudden emotion or action ("burst into tears", "burst into laughter"), and "burst out" followed by -ing for some actions ("burst out laughing"). Saying *"burst in tears" or *"burst to tears" is incorrect.
Meaning
suddenly start showing something
Collocations
burst into tears
|burst into laughter
|burst into song
|burst into flames
|burst into applause
|burst out laughing
Synonyms
suddenly begin (More general and less vivid; does not carry the idea of strong emotion or force.)
Antonyms
gradually develop (Shows something starting slowly over time, not suddenly and strongly.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To suddenly start to do or show something very strongly, like crying, laughing, or burning.
To suddenly begin producing, showing, or being filled with a strong emotion, sound, or activity.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a burst of [noun]
He ran past the defenders in a sudden burst of speed.
Hirtelen rágyorsítva elfutott a védők mellett.
The meeting was broken by a burst of laughter from the back of the room.
A megbeszélést a terem végéből kitörő nevetés szakította félbe.
The machine sends data in short bursts rather than continuously.
We heard a burst of gunfire and then everything went quiet.
Learner examples
The child cleaned his room in a burst of energy.
A gyerek hirtelen támadt lendülettel kitakarította a szobáját.
There was a loud burst of laughter after the funny story.
A vicces történet után hangos nevetés tört ki.
The team made one last burst of effort and won the game.
The lights came on in short bursts during the storm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"a short burst of time" when they mean "a short period of time". Use "burst" with things that can be strong or intense for a moment, like energy, speed, noise, or activity, not with the word "time" itself.
Meaning
short sudden period of activity
Collocations
a burst of laughter
|a burst of speed
|a burst of gunfire
|a burst of energy
|a burst of applause
|in short bursts
Synonyms
outburst (Often used more specifically for sudden strong emotions, especially anger, rather than for speed or physical activity.)
Antonyms
steady flow (Suggests something continues at a constant, even rate, not in short, sudden periods.)
Themes
time
|emotions
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A short time when something happens very strongly or quickly, like energy, noise, or activity.
A short, sudden period or increase of activity, emotion, sound, light, or other force.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] bursts into/out of [a place]
He burst into the room, shouting for everyone to get out.
Berontott a szobába, és azt kiabálta, hogy mindenki menjen ki.
The children burst out of the school as soon as the bell rang.
A gyerekek kirontottak az iskolából, amint megszólalt a csengő.
A man burst through the door and demanded to see the manager.
They burst onto the stage to start the show with a bang.
Learner examples
The teacher was angry when the student burst into the class late.
A tanár mérges volt, amikor a diák késve berontott az órára.
The dog burst out of the house and ran down the street.
A kutya kirontott a házból, és végigrohant az utcán.
Two firemen burst through the door to rescue the family.
She burst into the office to share the good news.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "burst into" (to enter a place suddenly) with "burst into" + noun (to suddenly start an action, like "burst into tears"). The meaning depends on what follows: a place (room, office) shows movement, while a noun like "tears" or "laughter" shows an emotional or activity start.
Meaning
enter or leave suddenly and forcefully
Collocations
burst into the room
|burst through the door
|burst out of the house
|burst onto the stage
|burst into the office
|burst in without knocking
Synonyms
rush (Focuses on speed, but does not always suggest the same level of sudden force or surprise.)
Antonyms
creep (Means to move very slowly and quietly, the opposite of sudden and forceful movement.)
Themes
movement
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go into, out of, or through a place very fast and suddenly, often with noise or surprise.
To enter, leave, or move through a place suddenly, quickly, and often noisily or forcefully.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] is bursting with [something]
The stadium was bursting with excited fans.
A stadion zsúfolásig tele volt lelkes szurkolókkal.
I am bursting with pride at what you have done.
Majd szétvet a büszkeség amiatt, amit tettél.
She was bursting to tell someone her secret.
The small shop is bursting with books from floor to ceiling.
Learner examples
The box was bursting with old photos.
A doboz tele volt régi fényképekkel.
He was bursting with ideas for the new project.
Tele volt ötletekkel az új projekthez.
I am bursting to tell you my news.
The hall was bursting with people at the party.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"full of bursting" or *"burst of pride" in this sense. Use "bursting with" plus a noun ("bursting with pride", "bursting with energy") or "bursting to" plus a verb ("bursting to tell you").
Meaning
be extremely full or eager
Collocations
bursting with pride
|bursting with energy
|bursting with ideas
|bursting at the seams
|bursting to tell
|bursting to go
Synonyms
overflow (Also means having very much of something, but is slightly gentler and often more formal.)
Antonyms
be empty (Shows a lack of content or feeling, the opposite of being extremely full.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To have so much of something inside, especially a feeling, that it feels almost too much to keep inside.
To be extremely full of something, or to feel so full of emotion or desire to do something that it seems almost impossible to hold it in.
VERB
B1
6
Usage pattern:
[someone] bursts [something]
The children took turns trying to burst the balloons with darts.
A gyerekek felváltva próbálták dobónyilakkal kipukkasztani a lufikat.
He accidentally burst the water bottle by sitting on it.
Véletlenül szétrepesztette a vizespalackot, amikor ráült.
Do not burst the bubble; I want to show it to the kids.
They used explosives to burst the old pipe and replace it.
Learner examples
Please do not burst my balloon.
Kérlek, ne pukkaszd ki a lufimat.
She burst the bag when she put too many books in it.
Kiszakította a táskát, amikor túl sok könyvet tett bele.
He burst the toy ball by kicking it too hard.
Be careful, you might burst the plastic bottle.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "explode" instead of "burst" for small objects. For simple things like balloons, bubbles, or bags, "burst" or "pop" is more natural. Also remember that the past tense is "burst", not *"bursted".
Meaning
make something break open
Collocations
burst a balloon
|burst the bubble
|burst the pipe
|burst the bag
|burst the tyre
|burst the dam
Synonyms
pop (Common in informal English for making small things like balloons or bubbles burst, and sounds a little lighter and more playful.)
Antonyms
inflate (Means to fill something with air; in some contexts it is the opposite action that can lead to bursting if overdone.)
Themes
daily life
|actions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something open or break suddenly, for example by pushing it or putting too much air or water inside.
To cause something to break open suddenly, especially by pressing, hitting, or filling it too much.
Grammar
Dictionary form
burst
IPA
GB/bˈɚst/
US/bˈɚst/
Syllables & stress
burst (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (burst)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: burst
- Plural: bursts
Verb
- Base: burst
- 3rd Person Singular: bursts
- Present Participle: bursting
- Past: burst
- Past Participle: burst
Word family
Forms
bursts
noun
bursting
verb
Related words
outburst
noun B2
Highlights
- Irregular past: burst Verb
- Irregular past participle: burst Verb
Expressions
burst in
1/bˈɚst ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
enter suddenly and rudely
To enter a room or place very quickly and suddenly, often without knocking or being invited.
Examples
- He burst in without knocking and interrupted their conversation.
- Three police officers burst in and told everyone to stay calm.
burst in on
1/bˈɚst ˈɪn ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
interrupt by entering suddenly
To suddenly enter a place and interrupt what someone is doing.
Examples
- I did not want to burst in on them while they were arguing.
- She burst in on her parents just as they were talking about her surprise party.
burst onto the scene
1/bˈɚst ˈɔntu ðə sˈin/
idiom
suddenly become famous or important
To become famous or important very quickly and suddenly.
Examples
- The young singer burst onto the scene with her first single.
- A new company has burst onto the scene with a very popular app.
burst out
1/bˈɚst ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
suddenly say something loudly
To suddenly say something in a loud or strong way, often without thinking.
Examples
- He burst out, "That is not fair!" in the middle of the meeting.
- She could not stay quiet and burst out with a question.
bursting at the seams
1/bˈɚstɪŋ ˈæt ðə sˈimz/
idiom
extremely full or crowded
To be so full or crowded that it seems ready to break open.
Examples
- The bus was bursting at the seams during rush hour.
- His wardrobe is bursting at the seams with old clothes.
fit to burst
1/fˈɪt tə bˈɚst/
idiom
informal
almost too full
So full of something, like food or feeling, that you feel you might burst.
Examples
- After the big meal I was fit to burst.
- She was fit to burst with excitement before the trip.
burst into flames
1/bˈɚst ˈɪntu flˈeɪmz/
fixed phrase
suddenly start burning
To suddenly start to burn with strong flames.
Examples
- The car burst into flames after hitting the wall.
- The car burst into flames after the crash.
- Dry leaves can burst into flames very easily.
- Dry leaves can burst into flames if you drop a match on them.
- The moment the match touched the paper, it burst into flames.
burst into laughter
1/bˈɚst ˈɪntu lˈæftɚ/
fixed phrase
suddenly start laughing
To start laughing suddenly, often together with other people.
Examples
- The children burst into laughter when the clown fell over.
- The whole class burst into laughter when the lights went out.
- She burst into laughter at his silly joke.
- The audience burst into laughter at his first joke.
burst into tears
1/bˈɚst ˈɪntu tˈɪɹz/
idiom
suddenly start crying
To start crying very suddenly and strongly.
Examples
- When she saw the broken vase, she burst into tears.
- He burst into tears as soon as he heard the sad news.
burst into tears
2/bˈɚst ˈɪntu tˈɪɹz/
idiom
Suddenly start crying
To start crying suddenly and loudly.
Examples
- She burst into tears when she heard the bad news.
- The child burst into tears after falling down.
burst out laughing
1/bˈɚst ˈaʊt lˈæfɪŋ/
fixed phrase
suddenly start laughing loudly
To begin to laugh very suddenly and loudly.
Examples
- She burst out laughing when she saw his costume.
- Everyone burst out laughing when he slipped on the stage but did not get hurt.
- They all burst out laughing at the joke.
- She burst out laughing at the end of the funny story.
burst someone's bubble
1/bˈɚst sˈʌmwˌʌnz bˈʌbəl/
idiom
informal
end someone's pleasant illusion
To make someone lose a happy idea or feeling by telling them something that shows it is not true.
Examples
- I do not want to burst your bubble, but that plan will not work.
- The bad review burst his bubble about the new restaurant.
burst someone's bubble
2/bˈɚst sˈʌmwˌʌnz bˈʌbəl/
idiom
destroy someone's happy illusion
To say or do something that makes someone lose a dream or nice idea that was not really true.
Examples
- I hate to burst your bubble, but that plan is never going to work.
- The news report burst his bubble about how safe the area really was.
burst with pride
1/bˈɚst wˈɪθ pɹˈaɪd/
idiom
feel extremely proud
To feel very, very proud of someone or something.
Examples
- His parents burst with pride when he graduated.
- She was bursting with pride after finishing the marathon.
burst with pride
2/bˈɚst wˈɪθ pɹˈaɪd/
idiom
Feel extremely pleased about success
To be very, very proud about what someone has done.
Examples
- His parents burst with pride when he graduated.
- She was bursting with pride after winning the race.
the bubble burst
1/ðə bˈʌbəl bˈɚst/
idiom
unrealistic good period ends
Used when a time of fast growth, high prices, or big hopes suddenly stops and ends in a bad way.
Examples
- House prices kept rising for years, then the bubble burst in 2008.
- Prices kept rising until the bubble burst in 2008.
- For the company, the bubble finally burst when sales dropped by half.
- The tech boom seemed endless, but then the bubble burst.