verb · 12 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
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/ɪˈɹʌpt/
rhymes with -ʌpt
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH0 R AH1 P T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:IY1 R AH0 P T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To eject something violently (such as lava or water, as from a volcano or geyser).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The volcano erupted, spewing lava across a wide area.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To burst forth; to break out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The third molar tooth erupts late in most people, and sometimes does not appear at all.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To spontaneously release pressure or tension.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive
Examples
The crowd erupted in anger.
The whole table erupted in laughter.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
(Of birds, insects, etc.) To suddenly appear in a certain region in large numbers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
become active and spew forth lava and rocks
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Vesuvius erupts once in a while
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: belch, extravasate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: explode, burst
6
verb
Meaning 6
erupt or intensify suddenly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Unrest erupted in the country
Tempers flared at the meeting
The crowd irrupted into a burst of patriotism
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: irrupt, flare up, flare, break open, burst out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: intensify, deepen
7
verb
Meaning 7
become raw or open
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He broke out in hives
My skin breaks out when I eat strawberries
Such boils tend to recrudesce
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: recrudesce, break out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: trouble, ail, pain
8
verb
Meaning 8
start abruptly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
After 1989, peace broke out in the former East Bloc
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: break out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: begin, start
9
verb
Meaning 9
appear on the skin
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
A rash erupted on her arms after she had touched the exotic plant
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: appear
10
verb
Meaning 10
break out
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The tooth erupted and had to be extracted
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: come out, break through, push through
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: appear
Narrower terms: dehisce
11
verb
Meaning 11
force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
break into tears
erupt in anger
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: break, burst
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: express emotion, express feelings
12
verb
Meaning 12
start to burn or burst into flames
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Marsh gases ignited suddenly
The oily rags combusted spontaneously
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ignite, catch fire, take fire, combust, conflagrate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change state, turn
Narrower terms: blow out, catch, light up
History
Etymology
From Latin eruptus, past participle of ērumpō (“to break out (of), to burst out (from)”), from e (“out”) + rumpō (“to break”).
Across languages
Translations
56 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
ثَار
(ṯār)
— to violently eject
Armenian:
ժայթքել
(žaytʻkʻel)
— to violently eject
Azerbaijani:
püskürmək
— to violently eject
Belarusian:
вывяргаць
(vyvjarhacʹ)
— to violently eject
Belarusian:
вывяргацца
(vyvjarhacca)
— to violently eject
Bulgarian:
изригвам
(izrigvam)
— to violently eject
Chinese Mandarin:
噴發 /喷发
(pēnfā)
— to violently eject
Chinese Mandarin:
爆發 /爆发
(bàofā)
— to violently eject
Chinese Mandarin:
噴出 /喷出
(pēnchū)
— to violently eject
Ngazidja Comorian:
ufuha
— to violently eject
Ngazidja Comorian:
usiha
— to violently eject
Czech:
vybuchnout
— to violently eject
Dutch:
uitbarsten
— to violently eject
Dutch:
erupteren
— to violently eject
Finnish:
purkautua
— to violently eject
French:
entrer en éruption
— to violently eject
Galician:
entrar en erupción
— to violently eject
Galician:
erupcionar
— to violently eject
German:
ausbrechen
— to violently eject
Greek:
εκραγώ
(ekragó)
— to violently eject
Hungarian:
kitör
— to violently eject
Indonesian:
meletus
— to violently eject
Italian:
eruttare
— to violently eject
Japanese:
噴出する
(funshutsu-suru)
— to violently eject
Central Kurdish:
تەقینەوە
(teqînewe)
— to violently eject
Latin:
efferveō
— to violently eject
Māori:
pupuha
— to violently eject
Māori:
puha
— to violently eject
Māori:
hū
— to violently eject
Portuguese:
entrar em erupção
— to violently eject
Portuguese:
erupcionar
— to violently eject
Russian:
изверга́ть
(izvergátʹ)
— to violently eject
Russian:
изверга́ться
(izvergátʹsja)
— to violently eject
Samoan:
sasao
— to violently eject
Spanish:
entrar en erupción
— to violently eject
Spanish:
erupcionar
— to violently eject
Swedish:
få ett utbrott (vulcano)
— to violently eject
Thai:
ปะทุ
(bpà-tú)
— to violently eject
Turkish:
indifa etmek
— to violently eject
Turkish:
püskürmek
— to violently eject
Ukrainian:
виверга́ти
(vyverháty)
— to violently eject
Ukrainian:
виверга́тися
(vyverhátysja)
— to violently eject
Welsh:
echdorri
— to violently eject
Finnish:
räjähtää
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Finnish:
leimahtaa
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Hungarian:
kitör
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Italian:
spuntare
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Italian:
scoppiare
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Italian:
sfociare
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Central Kurdish:
تەقینەوە
(teqînewe)
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Spanish:
estallar
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Spanish:
explotar
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
Welsh:
torri
— to spontaneously release pressure or tension
