# busting

/ˈbəstɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈʌstɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/busting
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. breaking something

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

breaking or damaging something so it no longer works.

For teachers: the act of breaking, smashing, or damaging an object to the point of failure.

- He ended up busting his phone screen after dropping it on the pavement.
- The constant vibration from the construction site was responsible for busting several fragile pipes in the basement of the old building.

### 2. police raid

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

when the police catch someone doing something illegal or raid a place.

For teachers: conducting a raid or making an arrest, particularly in the context of organized crime or narcotics.

- The police spent months planning the operation before finally busting the gang.
- Federal agents were successful in busting the smuggling ring after intercepting a series of encrypted communications between the lead distributors.

### 3. needing the toilet

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

needing to go to the toilet very urgently.

For teachers: experiencing an urgent, pressing need to urinate; a variant of 'bursting'.

- Can we stop at the next petrol station? I'm absolutely busting.
- After the three-hour coach journey without a break, most of the passengers were busting by the time we reached the terminal.

### 4. the act of breaking

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the process or sound of something breaking or exploding.

For teachers: the action or instance of something being broken, shattered, or exploded.

- The loud busting of the pipes woke everyone up in the middle of the night.
- The sudden busting of the dam's secondary wall sent a surge of water into the valley, catching the local authorities by surprise.

## Examples

- The kids are busting with energy after breakfast.
- She arrived at the party busting with excitement about her new job offer.
- The young team was busting with confidence, believing their rigorous training had prepared them for any challenge the opponents could throw their way.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.