to burst

Examples

• All

• I remember her coming home from school bursting with jokes and stories.

  Sinister Switch (2021)

• Indeed, Balbuena forges Mexico City into a wonder cabinet bursting with the objects that mark the imperial city's achievements.

  Academic text (2004)

• At the age of 50 I'm about to burst upon the world in a musical.

  The Fan (1981)

• Your heart bursts with love for this person.

• And your families and loved ones will cheer, and their hearts will be bursting with pride for you.

• My heart is bursting with pride for what you're saying.

  Ed Mylett

• We made it for two and that place was bursting at the seams.

• The crowd goes silent for a beat, then bursts into delighted laughter.

  Academic text (2008)

• Early Christianity, over all other religions that existed in Rome, was bursting with missionary zeal.

  Academic text (2004)

• Her heart was bursting with joy when she received the good news.

Synonyms

E

to explode

vsto burst

136 4.3

To increase very quickly in number or size

is about sudden full presence rather than continuous numeric growth

E

to erupt

vsto burst

123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

is about being suddenly filled inside rather than breaking out

A

to abound

vsto burst

52 4.2

Be present in large numbers

involves a sudden filling or teeming rather than steady abundance

B

to bristle

vsto burst

5 5.6

To be full of many things or strong feeling

is sudden filling rather than ongoing lively motion

B

to bubble over

vsto burst

2 4.7

To be so full of strong feeling or excitement that you show it clearly

is used more generally for sudden filling not only for emotions

Antonyms

L

lack

∞ 1.3

Not having something you need or want

E

emptiness

58 5.3

A feeling that life has no meaning

Idioms

B

to burst a blood vessel

• Informal

6.9

To become very angry or upset in a way people notice

B

to burst someone's bubble

• Informal

6.3

Tell someone that something they hoped for is not true

Phrasal Verbs

B

to burst into tears

24 2.4

To suddenly cry because of a strong feeling

B

to burst in

21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

B

to burst out

9 3.3

Suddenly say something or make a loud sound

B

to burst out laughing

• Informal

8 2.4

To suddenly start laughing loudly and not be able to stop

B

to burst forth

5 5.4

Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy

B

to burst in on

3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

B

to burst out

2 3.4

Start suddenly and appear or happen quickly

B

to burst upon

1 6.1

Suddenly appear in a place or in someone's mind and surprise people

Compounds

B

burst of flavor

1 3.4

A sudden strong taste in food or drink

B

burst of fire

1 5.7

A sudden strong flash of flames or energy that happens quickly

B

burst-up

• UK

7.7

A sudden strong argument that ends a relationship or situation

How Full

to overflow

43 2.9

to burst

81 3.9

to brim

23 3.7

full of

∞ 1.0

to contain

∞ 1.1

Surface Forms

Etymology