What Is The Past Tense Of Burst? How To Use It?

By Benjamin Essek

What Is The Past Tense Of Burst?

The past tense of burst is “burst.” The irregular verb “burst” remains the same in the present, past tense, and past participle, so you can easily remember it.

You can check out the following table for more details:

Base Form/Infinitive Form (V1) burst
Present Form/3rd Person/Singular Form bursts
Past Simple Tense Form (V2) burst
Past Participle Form (V3) burst
Present Participle/Gerund bursting

How To Pronounce “Burst” Correctly? 

The word “burst” is pronounced as /bɜːst/ in the British accent and /bɜːrst/ in the American accent. You can refer to the table below for more details:

Verb Forms Pronunciation 
British English language American English language
burst /bɜːst/ /bɜːrst/
burst

(V2)

/bɜːst/ /bɜːrst/
burst

(V3)

/bɜːst/ /bɜːrst/
bursting /ˈbɜːstɪŋ/ /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/

How to pronounce “burst” correctly and naturally as native speakers? Check out the below videos:

How to say burst in American English:  

How to say burst in British English: 

What Are The Definitions Of Burst? How To Use It?

You can use the past tense of “burst” to refer to an event or action that happened and was completed before the time of speaking.

Below are the meanings of “burst”:

  • To break open or apart, usually from impact or from pressure inside. (See the past tense of break here)

Example: Yesterday, the balloon burst when it hit a sharp object.

  • To feel strong emotions or have a strong wish to do something.

Example: This morning, he burst with excitement when he received his acceptance letter.

  • To suddenly/ forcefully move or come from a place.

Example: The thief opened the window and burst into her house last night.

  • To be filled/ very full to the breaking point.

Example: Last month, the river burst its banks due to heavy rainfall.

Exercises

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Created on By Benjamin Essek

Past Tense Of Burst

Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank:

1 / 7

He sometimes _____ with anger when he is frustrated.

2 / 7

In 2020, she ____ with pride when she saw her son graduate from college.

3 / 7

He squeezed the orange too hard, and it ____ all over the kitchen counter this morning.

4 / 7

By the time anyone could react, the bird had already ____ from its cage and flown away.

5 / 7

Last summer, the dam _____ and flooded the nearby town.

6 / 7

She often ____ into laughter when she hears a funny joke. (Click here to see the past tense of hear)

7 / 7

Yesterday, the fireworks ____ into the sky, creating a beautiful display.

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FAQs

What Are Some Common Collocations Of Burst?

  • Burst fire: A rapid succession of shots or gunfire, typically in short bursts rather than continuous firing.

Example: The soldiers used burst fire to suppress the enemy’s advance.

  • Burst of activity: A sudden and intense period of active behavior or work.

Example: As the deadline approached, there was a burst of activity in the office to complete the project.

  • Burst of light: A sudden and bright flash of light.

Example: The photographer captured a beautiful photo of a burst of light during the fireworks display.

  • Burst of speed: A sudden and rapid increase in pace.

Example: The athlete unleashed a burst of speed in the final stretch of the race.

What Does “Be Bursting/Bulging At The Seams” Mean?

The idiom “be bursting/bulging at the seams” is used to convey the idea of being extremely full, overcrowded, or overflowing with people, things, or activity.

Examples:

  • The stadium was bursting at the seams during the championship match. 
  • The small café is bursting at the seams with customers during the lunch rush. 

What Do “Burst Into” And “Burst Onto” Mean?

  • Burst into: Suddenly produce something with great force.

Example: The child burst into tears when she realized she had lost her favorite toy.

  • Burst onto: Emerge or appear suddenly and forcefully onto a scene or into a particular situation.

Example: The young singer burst onto the music scene with her debut album, captivating audiences with her powerful voice.