verb

bust

buhst

verb

To break something, especially by force.

"He busted the lock trying to get into the shed."

"Careful, you'll bust that chair if you keep leaning back on it."

To catch someone doing something wrong or illegal, or to arrest them.

"Police busted the gang after a six-month investigation."

"She got busted for copying answers during the exam."

noun

A sculpture showing a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest.

"A marble bust of the composer stood in the entrance hall."

A woman's breasts, or the measurement around them.

"The dress comes in small, medium, and large bust sizes."

adjective

Broke; without any money.

"I can't go out tonight, I'm completely bust."

How to Use Bust

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBreak something, get caught/arrested, or (as a noun) a sculpture of someone's upper body — or, informally, having no money left.

Common mistake

The "sculpture/chest" noun and the "break/arrest" verb look identical but come from different word histories — treat them as separate meanings rather than assuming one explains the other.

Common pairings

get busted bust a move go bust a bronze bust

Word Forms

busted past tense, bust past tense, busts plural, busts plural, busts singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ the lock trying to get into the shed.

Etymology

The verb comes from a Middle English variant of "burst," so bust and burst are historically the same word. The noun meaning "head-and-shoulders sculpture" or "chest measurement" comes from a separate root, French buste.

Rhymes for bust

dust must rust lust just oust gust trust crust joust Faust Foust

See all rhymes for bust →