Standard Lemma guide

bursting

adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈbɝstɪŋ/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbɜːstɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: B ER1 S T IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Very eager (to do something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I was bursting to tell him the secret.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Urgently needing to urinate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: often

Examples

  • Can you tell me where the toilets are? I'm bursting.
  • The kid is bursting to go to the toilet.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

So full (with something) as almost to erupt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The newly stocked refrigerator is bursting with fresh vegetables.
  • Her heart was bursting with repressed emotion.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The act by which something bursts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • the burstings of balloons

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

present participle and gerund of burst

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 尿急 (niàojí) — urgently needing to urinate
  • Finnish: halkeamaisillaan — urgently needing to urinate
  • Italian: impellenza — urgently needing to urinate
  • Italian: urgenza — urgently needing to urinate
  • Italian: bisogno impellente — urgently needing to urinate