Definition

Verb: - To enter a place or situation suddenly and forcefully, often interrupting something. - To appear or begin abruptly and without warning, causing an interruption.

Usage

This verb describes the action of intruding upon a scene, conversation, or activity in a sudden, unexpected, and often disruptive manner. It implies a lack of warning or permission.

Examples

• Verb:
  • He burst in on our private meeting without knocking.
  • The children burst in on their parents' anniversary dinner, full of excitement.
  • I'm sorry to burst in on you like this, but it's an emergency.

Advanced Usage

• "to burst in on someone": This construction emphasizes the person whose activity is being interrupted.
  • The reporter tried to burst in on the celebrity during her vacation.
• The phrase often carries a connotation of the intrusion being unwelcome or startling, though not always negative (e.g., a happy surprise).

Variants and Related Words

• Burst into (phrasal verb): To enter a place suddenly. Often used with rooms.
  • She burst into the room, shouting the good news.
• Intrude on (verb phrase): To enter or involve oneself in a situation without invitation, a more formal synonym.
• Barge in (on) (phrasal verb): To enter rudely or abruptly, a close synonym with a stronger connotation of force or rudeness.

Synonyms

• Interrupt: To stop the continuous progress of an activity or process.
• Intrude upon: To put oneself into a place or situation where one is not welcome or invited.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Burst in: To enter a place suddenly. This is the base form without the preposition "on," focusing more on the entrance than the target of the interruption.
  • The door flew open and a stranger burst in.
• Break in on: To interrupt a conversation or activity (similar in meaning but can sound slightly less sudden or forceful).
  • May I break in on your discussion for a moment?

Related Idioms

• Catch someone off guard: To surprise someone by doing something they did not expect. This describes the effect that "bursting in on" someone often has.
  • The sudden question caught him off guard.

Verb

1. spring suddenly
   • He burst upon our conversation