adjective
Uncommon
bursting
BURS-tihng
Bursting (adjective) means So full of something that it seems ready to burst. Example: “The suitcase was bursting with clothes.”
adjective
1
So full of something that it seems ready to burst.
"The suitcase was bursting with clothes."
2
Extremely eager or excited to do something.
"I was bursting to tell him the secret."
"She was bursting to share the good news."
How to use bursting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOverflowing or extremely full — used both literally (a bag bursting with shopping) and figuratively (bursting with pride, bursting to tell someone something).
Common pairings
bursting with pride
bursting at the seams
bursting to tell
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Word forms
- Plural
- burstings
- Comparative
- more bursting
- Superlative
- most bursting
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The suitcase was _____ with clothes.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “bursting” mean?
The word “bursting” means so full of something that it seems ready to burst. In plain terms, overflowing or extremely full — used both literally (a bag bursting with shopping) and figuratively (bursting with pride, bursting to tell someone something).
How do you pronounce “bursting”?
“Bursting” is pronounced BURS-tihng (/ˈbɝstɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bursting” in a sentence?
Here is “bursting” used in a sentence: “The suitcase was bursting with clothes.”
What is another word for “bursting”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bursting” include busting.
What part of speech is “bursting”?
“Bursting” is an adjective.
Is “bursting” a common word?
“Bursting” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bursting” have?
“Bursting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: so full of something that it seems ready to burst.
