spurt
B2Neutral to Informal. Common in everyday and journalistic language.
Definition
Meaning
To gush, flow, or move suddenly and forcefully in a short, intense burst.
A sudden brief burst of increased activity, effort, speed, or growth.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word strongly implies a contrast: a short, energetic period against a background of less activity. It suggests something is released under pressure. It can describe both liquids (literal) and abstract concepts like effort or growth (figurative).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences. Both use 'spurt' for liquids and growth spurts. 'Spurt' is marginally more common in AmE for describing a sudden increase in speed in sports contexts.
Connotations
Identical. Connotes suddenness, force, and brevity.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. The noun form 'growth spurt' is a fixed, high-frequency collocation in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] spurt (from/out of sth)[VERB] spurt sth (from/out of sth)[NOUN] spurt of NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A spurt of the moment (a pun on 'spur of the moment', but not standard).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The company saw a spurt in sales after the new ad campaign.'
Academic
Used in developmental psychology/biology: 'Adolescents undergo significant growth spurts.'
Everyday
Common for liquids, effort, and speed: 'The pipe burst and water spurted everywhere.' 'He put on a final spurt to win the race.'
Technical
In engineering/fluid dynamics: 'A spurt of hydraulic fluid indicated a seal failure.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The toddler had a massive growth spurt.
- He finished the essay with a frantic spurt of typing.
- With a sudden spurt, the cyclist broke away from the pack.
American English
- The economy experienced a short-lived growth spurt.
- She felt a spurt of anger at the news.
- A final spurt of speed won her the gold medal.
verb
British English
- Blood spurted from the wound.
- The runner spurted past his rival in the last 50 metres.
- The kettle spurted steam from its spout.
American English
- Oil spurted out of the ground. (UK also)
- He spurted ahead in the polls after the debate.
- The fountain spurted water ten feet into the air.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Water spurted from the hose.
- Babies have growth spurts.
- After the rain, green shoots showed a spurt of growth.
- The car spurted forward when the light turned green.
- In a remarkable spurt of creativity, she finished three paintings in a weekend.
- Investors are hoping for a spurt in the company's share price.
- The polemic was characterized by sporadic spurts of vitriolic rhetoric.
- Geothermal activity was evidenced by spurts of superheated steam from fissures in the rock.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SPURT of water from a SPOILED yoghurt pot you prick with a pin – it's a sudden, forced burst.
Conceptual Metaphor
EFFORT/ACTIVITY IS A PRESSURIZED LIQUID (e.g., 'a spurt of productivity').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'spur' (шпора, стимул). 'Spurt' is about a burst, not encouragement.
- The Russian 'рывок' is a good equivalent for the noun meaning of sudden effort or movement.
- Avoid overusing for any increase; it must be sudden and forceful.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing verb/noun forms: 'He did a spurt' (awkward) vs. 'He made a spurt' or 'He spurted ahead'.
- Using it for long durations: 'Sales spurted for three months' (incorrect – use 'surged' or 'soared').
- Misspelling as 'spirt' (archaic/less common variant).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'spurt' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is commonly used figuratively for any sudden, short burst of activity, speed, emotion, or growth (e.g., a spurt of energy, a growth spurt).
A 'spurt' is typically shorter and more discrete than a 'surge'. A surge can be more powerful and last longer. A spurt is like a quick squirt; a surge is like a powerful wave.
Yes, it is commonly used as both (e.g., 'Water spurted' [verb], 'a sudden spurt' [noun]).
'Spirt' is a recognized but archaic and much less common variant. In modern English, 'spurt' is the standard and recommended spelling.