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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate

erupt

ih-RUHPT

Erupt (verb) means to violently throw out material, especially lava, ash, or steam from a volcano. Example: “The volcano erupted without warning, sending ash miles into the sky.”

verb
1
To violently throw out material, especially lava, ash, or steam from a volcano.
"The volcano erupted without warning, sending ash miles into the sky."
2
To suddenly break out or start, especially with force or intensity.
"Cheers erupted from the crowd when the winning goal went in."
"Violence erupted after the match ended."

How to use erupt

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo suddenly burst out, whether that's lava from a volcano or noise from a crowd.

Common pairings
erupt into violence volcano erupts erupt in laughter

Word forms

erupted past tense, erupts singular

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Test yourself on “erupt” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The volcano _____ without warning, sending ash miles into the sky.

Etymology

From Latin ēruptus, past participle of ērumpere, "to burst out," from e- ("out") plus rumpere ("to break").

Origin: Latin

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “erupt” mean?

The word “erupt” means to violently throw out material, especially lava, ash, or steam from a volcano. In plain terms, to suddenly burst out, whether that's lava from a volcano or noise from a crowd.

How do you pronounce “erupt”?

“Erupt” is pronounced ih-RUHPT (/ɪˈɹʌpt/ in IPA).

How do you use “erupt” in a sentence?

Here is “erupt” used in a sentence: “The volcano erupted without warning, sending ash miles into the sky.”

What is another word for “erupt”?

Words with a similar meaning to “erupt” include burst.

What part of speech is “erupt”?

“Erupt” is a verb.

Where does the word “erupt” come from?

The word “erupt” comes from Latin. From Latin ēruptus, past participle of ērumpere, "to burst out," from e- ("out") plus rumpere ("to break").

How many meanings does “erupt” have?

“Erupt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to violently throw out material, especially lava, ash, or steam from a volcano.

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