Phrasal verb
burst into
Definition
phrasal verb. to suddenly start doing something, like crying, laughing, or singing.
phrasal verb. to suddenly and spontaneously begin a specific state or action; often used with nouns representing emotional outbursts or sudden movement.
Examples
“The audience burst into laughter after the joke.”
“She was so overwhelmed by the news that she burst into tears immediately.”
“As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the dry brush burst into flames, lighting up the entire valley.”
Examples
simple
“The audience burst into laughter after the joke.”
contextual
“She was so overwhelmed by the news that she burst into tears immediately.”
complex
“As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the dry brush burst into flames, lighting up the entire valley.”
Usage
usually followed by a noun representing an action or emotion, such as tears, laughter, song, or flames.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'break into' (often used for physical entry or a change in pace like 'break into a run'); 'burst into' emphasizes the sudden, explosive nature of the start.
Pitfall
He burst into to cry.
He burst into tears.
this phrase is followed by a noun, not an infinitive verb.
Phrasal verb
Particles
into
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
burst + into + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/burst-into