Outburst
/ˈaʊtˌbɜːrst/noun
A sudden, forceful release of emotion, sound, or activity.
Did you know?Outburst is a native English compound built from out + burst, and burst itself comes from an ancient Germanic root meaning to break open, making the word feel like language imitating a sudden rupture.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
berstan
“to break, burst, or split apart”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*berstaną
“to burst, break, or snap”
Middle English
English
outbursten
“to burst out or break forth”
16th Century
English
outburst
“a bursting out, especially of emotion or force”
Modern English
English
outburst
“a sudden, forceful release of feeling, sound, or activity”