# outburst

/ˈaʊtˌbɝst/ (US) · /ˈaʊtbɜːst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outburst
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. emotional release

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, strong expression of a feeling like anger, sadness, or excitement.

For teachers: a sudden and often uncontrolled expression of strong emotion, typically directed at others.

- He later apologised for his angry outburst during the staff meeting.
- The witness's emotional outburst in the courtroom forced the judge to call for a brief recess to restore order.

### 2. sudden activity

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a sudden increase in activity or energy.

For teachers: a sudden, brief period of intense activity or energy release.

- The sun produced a massive outburst of energy that affected satellite signals.
- Astronomers monitored the stellar outburst, noting the significant increase in luminosity over a period of just forty-eight hours.

## Examples

- He apologized for his angry outburst during the meeting.
- The child's sudden outburst of laughter filled the quiet library, making everyone look up from their books.
- The politician's career was severely damaged by an uncharacteristic emotional outburst that was captured on camera and widely shared across social media platforms.

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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.