erupt
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to explode and throw out fire, ash, and melted rock.
to eject molten rock, ash, and gases suddenly and violently from a volcanic vent or geyser.
Simple“The volcano erupted last night, covering the nearby village in a layer of grey ash.”
In context“Geologists monitored the seismic activity for weeks before the mountain finally erupted, sending a plume of ash miles into the atmosphere.”
UsageThe verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to suddenly start making a loud noise or showing a strong feeling.
to give vent to sudden, loud, or intense emotion or sound.
Simple“The crowd erupted in cheers when the player scored the winning goal.”
In context“The courtroom erupted into chaos as the verdict was read, forcing the judge to call for immediate order.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'in' or 'into'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
to start suddenly, like a fight, a war, or a rash on your skin.
to break out or appear suddenly and intensely, especially regarding social unrest or physical symptoms.
Simple“Violence erupted in the city streets after the controversial new law was passed.”
In context“Medical staff were concerned when a strange rash erupted across the patient's torso shortly after the treatment began.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
when a new tooth grows through the gum in your mouth.
to emerge through the gingiva or gum tissue during the process of dental development.
Simple“Babies often become fussy and cry more when their first teeth start to erupt.”
In context“The dentist used the X-ray to determine if the wisdom teeth were likely to erupt in a crowded position.”
Synonyms
Usage erupted after another academic
“We All Know the Story of the Pompeii Victims Who Died When Mount Vesuvius Erupted 2,000 Years Ago.”
“Swift J1727.8−1613 was discovered after it suddenly erupted in 2023 and quickly became one of the brightest X-ray sources in the sky.”
From Latin eruptus, past participle of ērumpō (“to break out (of), to burst out (from)”), from e (“out”) + rumpō (“to break”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.