Burst into sth Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Burst into sth” Mean?

“Burst into sth” means to suddenly start doing something quickly and often emotionally, such as crying, laughter, or flames. It describes an immediate and strong reaction.

Introduction

The phrase “burst into sth” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe sudden, intense actions or changes, often related to emotions or physical reactions. For example, you might say someone burst into tears or burst into laughter. The burst into sth meaning involves an abrupt start of an action, usually visible and strong. Understanding this phrase helps learners describe emotional or sudden events clearly and naturally. It is widely used in both spoken and written English, making it essential for effective communication.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: burst into sth (e.g., burst into tears, burst into flames)
• Type: Intransitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To suddenly start doing something, especially an emotion or action

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Burst into sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot separate “burst” and “into” with another word. It is followed by a noun or noun phrase that describes the action or emotion.

Pattern:

• Subject + burst into + noun (emotion or action)
• Example: She burst into tears.

Because it is intransitive, there is no direct object. The phrase always describes the subject’s sudden action.

How to Use “Burst into sth”?

Use “burst into sth” when you want to describe a sudden and intense start of an action, often emotional or physical. Commonly, it is used with emotions like laughter, tears, or anger, and physical reactions like flames or applause.

For example, if someone suddenly starts laughing loudly, you can say, “He burst into laughter.” If a fire suddenly starts, you say, “The building burst into flames.”

Examples

• When she heard the good news, she burst into tears of joy.
• The children burst into laughter during the funny movie.
• The old house suddenly burst into flames last night.
• He burst into applause after the speech.
• Without warning, the crowd burst into cheers.

These examples show “burst into sth in a sentence” to express sudden, strong reactions or events.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: She burst the tears.
• Correct: She burst into tears.
• Incorrect: They burst in laughter.
• Correct: They burst into laughter.

Remember, “burst into” must be followed by a noun describing the action or emotion, not a verb or adjective.

Differences / Synonyms

• Burst into tears vs. Break down in tears: Both mean to start crying suddenly, but “break down” focuses more on emotional collapse.
• Burst into flames vs. Catch fire: “Burst into flames” suggests a sudden, explosive start of fire, while “catch fire” is more neutral.
• Burst into laughter vs. Burst out laughing: Both are similar, but “burst out laughing” emphasizes the loudness and suddenness of laughter.

Common Collocations

• Burst into tears
• Burst into laughter
• Burst into flames
• Burst into applause
• Burst into song
• Burst into cheers

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of burst into sth:

• Burst Onto Sth
• Burst Upon Sth
• Burst Out Of Sth
• Burst Through Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Anna: Did you see Sarah at the party last night?

Ben: Yes! She suddenly burst into laughter when John told that joke.

Anna: I love it when people burst into laughter like that. It’s so contagious.

Ben: Me too! It made the whole room feel happy.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “burst into”:

1. When he heard the sad news, he _______ _______ tears.
2. The fireworks _______ _______ cheers from the crowd.
3. The old barn suddenly _______ _______ flames.
4. Everyone _______ _______ applause after the performance.

FAQs

• Q: Can “burst into” be used with verbs?
  A: No, it is followed by a noun or noun phrase, not a verb.
• Q: Is “burst into” always related to emotions?
  A: Mostly, but it can also describe physical reactions like fire or applause.
• Q: What is the difference between “burst into tears” and “cry suddenly”?
  A: “Burst into tears” emphasizes a sudden, uncontrollable start of crying.
• Q: Can “burst into” be used in the past tense?
  A: Yes, for example, “She burst into laughter yesterday.”
• Q: Is “burst into” separable?
  A: No, “burst into” is inseparable.