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Definition 2024


burst_out

burst out

English

Verb

burst out (third-person singular simple present bursts out, present participle bursting out, simple past and past participle burst out)

  1. (intransitive, literally) To appear suddenly.
    • 2001, Matthew Reilly, Temple:
      Shouts and screams burst out from the television's speakers
    • 2008, Tom Wolfe, Bonfire of the Vanities:
      They began scurrying to the sides, to make way for the rogue galaxy of bodies that had just burst out of the courtroom
  2. (intransitive) To display emotion.
    • 1993, Leslie Feinberg, Stone butch blues:
      My parents exchanged amused glances and burst out laughing.
  3. (intransitive) to speak emotionally or suddenly
    • 2007, Paul Laurence Dunbar, The Sport of the Gods:
      As soon as the woman's back was turned, Joe burst out, "There, there! see what you've done with your damned foolishness."

Usage notes

  • (appear suddenly): Usually burst + out of, though burst out + from is possible.
  • (emotional noise): particularly used as burst out laughing or burst out crying, or with another present participle. Consider also burst into laughter, burst into tears.

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