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Glite Dictionary
😂 To suddenly say 💥 To appear suddenly
to burst out

to burst out

2 3.4
Start suddenly and appear or happen quickly
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɜrst aʊt/
translation icon : salir de repente
  • Jack burst out of the tranquil darkness onto the bustling avenue, Central Park West.
  • burst out of the door
  • burst out of the brush

And I think, yes, that in the period since, all of the things that we had hoped might go away have just burst out.

Examples

  • When the First World War burst out, the Metropolitan Museum had no rival.

  • "More shouts, more cursing burst out of the living room."

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Soft yolk and white burst out in every direction.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • A fresh sob rose up from his belly and burst out of his mouth.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Then he burst out with the only words that sprang to his lips.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The old man burst out laughing and slapped Remi on the knee.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Kroton continued while the crowd burst out in cries of disbelief.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The singing seems to burst out at random above the buzz and jangle of the rental spinet.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Duke and Gonzo burst out of the supermarket riding a shopping basket loaded with coconuts, grapefruit, and tequila.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • When the fireworks burst out, everyone at the festival cheered in excitement.

Synonyms

to explode
vsto burst out
579 2.8

To burst suddenly and violently, making a loud noise and flying pieces

is a sudden occurrence but usually lacks violent release of energy
to pop
vsto burst out
492 2.0

To make something open or appear quickly

is the same sudden action but emphasizes unexpected arrival instead
to spring
vsto burst out
145 2.5

To appear or happen suddenly

is the same sudden appearance but differs only in phrasing
to pop up
vsto burst out
144 3.5

Appear suddenly and briefly when you are not expecting it

is the same sudden arrival but often used for brief appearances
to break out
vsto burst out
140 3.8

To start suddenly, often with something dangerous like a fire or disease

is a sudden happening but not limited to unpleasant or large events
to erupt
vsto burst out
123 4.2

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

is a sudden event but normally without violent or emotional force
to burst
vsto burst out
115 1.9

Enter or appear suddenly with energy

is a general sudden happening without implying energetic movement
to spring up
vsto burst out
43 3.3

To appear quickly in a place, often as new shops or cafes

is more general sudden appearance rather than focusing on development
to spill out
vsto burst out
26 3.6

Move out of a place suddenly in large numbers or fall out of a container and spread

is about sudden appearance rather than physical flowing or mass exit
to pop out
vsto burst out
20 2.9

To appear suddenly without warning

is the same sudden occurrence but differs in phrasing
to crop up
vsto burst out
20 4.3

To appear suddenly, often as a problem or question

is the same sudden event but is more general than problem use
to burst forth
vsto burst out
5 5.4

Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy

is a sudden appearance but usually less forceful or intense
to bob up
vsto burst out
1 4.9

Appear suddenly and without warning

is the same sudden showing but differs only in phrasing
to burst upon
vsto burst out
1 6.1

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

is the same sudden start but usually without stressing impact
to irrupt
vsto burst out
9.4

Suddenly appear or enter with force

is the same sudden arrival but usually lacking forceful entry

Antonyms

to fade away
69 3.0

To become weaker and then disappear over time

How Sudden

to erupt
123 4.2
to burst out
2 3.4
to pop up
144 3.5
to appear
873 1.0

Surface Forms

burst out infinitive
burst out past
burst out past participle
bursting out present participle
bursts out third person singular

Morphology

burst + out

The meaning 'to suddenly express or release an emotion/utterance' is directly derivable from combining 'burst' (to release suddenly) with 'out' (outward direction); the image of something breaking forth outward matches the MWE sense. This compositional metaphor is common across languages (e.g. 'burst into laughter', 'éclater de rire'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will very likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

Burst out comes from the image of something suddenly breaking open: burst means to break and out shows moving outside, like smoke bursting out of an engine or a crowd rushing through a gate. That's why it means 'to appear or happen suddenly and unexpectedly'.