erupted; erupting; erupts

intransitive verb

1
a(1)
: to burst from limits or restraint
(2)
of a tooth : to emerge through the gum
b
: to force out or release suddenly and often violently something (such as lava or steam) that is pent up
c
: to become active or violent especially suddenly : break forth
war could erupt at any moment
the audience erupted in applause
2
: to break out with or as if with a skin eruption

transitive verb

: to force out or release usually suddenly and violently
a volcano erupting lava and ash
eruptible adjective
eruptive adjective
eruptively adverb

Examples of erupt in a Sentence

The volcano erupted with tremendous force. A bitter dispute has erupted among the members of the team.
Recent Examples on the Web But on January 30, gunfire erupted down the street while the eight-year-old was playing outside, sending a stray bullet through Woodjina’s stomach. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The crowd - a sellout - erupted in cheers and applause. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 The crowd erupted as Fox News, playing on screens around the ballroom, announced that the former president had won North Carolina’s GOP primary. Will Weissert, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Sweeney’s Universal Studios mini-scandal erupted earlier this year. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Hundreds of volcanoes erupting lava fountains that spew dozens of miles into the air are active on the rocky moon, which is terrorized by violent tidal forces that send molten lava spreading and hardening across its surface. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 Both cousins were injured and Rifi had had to cower amid the dead in an early morning melee that erupted when the rare aid convoy passed an Israeli military checkpoint and entered Gaza City. Jonathan Baran, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 That smoke turned out to be from the Smokehouse Creek wildfire that had erupted that same day in their county, Hutchinson. Li Cohen, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024 After host Jimmy Fallon played the clip, the crowd erupted into applause while Butler shook his head. Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'erupt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin eruptus, past participle of erumpere to burst forth, from e- + rumpere to break — more at reave

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of erupt was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near erupt

Cite this Entry

“Erupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erupt. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

erupt

verb
1
: to burst forth or cause to burst forth : explode
2
: to break through a surface
teeth erupting from the gum
3
: to break out with or as if with a skin eruption
eruptive adjective

Medical Definition

erupt

intransitive verb
1
of a tooth : to emerge through the gum
2
: to break out (as with a skin eruption)
eruptive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on erupt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!