bursts 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of burst
1
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure the turnover's crust burst when the filling expanded

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2
as in shatters
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive finally burst the piñata open with one mighty swing of the bat

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3
as in buzzes
to be copiously supplied a young singer/dancer who seems to be bursting with energy and talent

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bursts

2 of 2

noun

plural of burst

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bursts
Verb
Things quickly take a terrifying turn during surgery when a scorpion tail suddenly bursts through Perry’s back, attacking one of the surgeons mid-operation. Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable. Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts. FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box. Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025 Sedona Sedona is another popular fall break destination for many reasons, least of all being Oak Creek Canyon, which bursts with color during the autumn months. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025 The movie is a tour de force In IMAX, the format’s large screen and huge sound a perfect partner for the purple one’s charisma, which positively bursts off the screen. Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Third Thursdays bring the festive Art Walk, when the district bursts with local art, live music, and technicolor vibes. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
From Friday to Sunday, singers and alphorn players filled the streets and spontaneous bursts of yodeling echoed through restaurants, where diners initially reacted with surprise before joining in. Jez Fielder, Fortune, 30 June 2026 San Francisco real estate agent Butch Haze of Compass has seen tech booms followed by ravenous bursts of homebuying since the first internet gold rush of the late 1990s. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 From Friday to Sunday, singers and alphorn players filled the streets and spontaneous bursts of yodeling echoed through restaurants, where diners initially reacted with surprise before joining in. ABC News, 29 June 2026 The runs are coming via the homer, as expected, but in small bursts, too. Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 27 June 2026 Undivided attention even in short bursts reinforces a child’s sense of importance and safety. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 26 June 2026 Focaccia bursts with the flavors of a Chicago hot dog. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 25 June 2026 This type of creatine is used to make energy quickly during short activity bursts. Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026 Much of it is held as phosphocreatine and used to make energy quickly during short bursts of activity. Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bursts
Verb
  • In other words, if that water heater explodes, then the investor will be personally sued for negligence in not replacing it, and the liability shield of the real property company is thus circumvented.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • But traipse past the principal’s office, scale a short incline, and you’ll be rewarded with an 80-foot-long mural that explodes with color.
    Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • But now a new ultralight player shatters the silence with an impressive solo tent that not only drops in right around 2 lb (907 oz) but does it at half the price of some of the competition.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 June 2026
  • When a window shatters, your entire home is at risk of collapse or even being blown away.
    Alora Bopray, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Every once in a while, a player buzzes in with an answer that truly catches fans off-guard.
    Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026
  • So when something goes on in markets that inspires exuberance or fear, my phone buzzes.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • There is even a remote possibility for a few flurries in the highest peaks of the Sierra on Saturday and Sunday nights with temps briefly below freezing.
    Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026
  • Even then, there are flurries of intense activity.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv, a Reuters witness said.
    Reuters, NBC news, 2 July 2026
  • Instead of focusing narrowly on one object at a time, the observatory will sweep across huge areas of sky, building an archive of stars, galaxies, asteroids and cosmic explosions.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Several of these eruptions were accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that appear to be at least partially Earth-directed.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 July 2026
  • The most powerful solar flares are X-class solar flares, and forecasters at NOAA observed one of these eruptions on Tuesday.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • If the ammunition detonates after penetration, the explosion is directed away from the crew compartment, significantly improving the crew’s chances of survival.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
  • After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Following the Oklahoma style, the team smashes Vidalia onions directly into the beef, making the patties superthin, then tops them with brown mustard, American cheese and pickles.
    Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Bursts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bursts. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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