spurt

1 of 4

verb (1)

spurted; spurting; spurts

intransitive verb

: to gush forth : spout

transitive verb

: to expel in a stream or jet : squirt
the faucet spurts water

spurt

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a sudden gush : jet

spurt

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a short period of time : moment
2
a
: a sudden brief burst of effort, activity, or development
a spurt of work
a growth spurt
b
: a sharp or sudden increase in business activity

spurt

4 of 4

verb (2)

spurted; spurting; spurts

intransitive verb

: to make a spurt

Examples of spurt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But Treasury yields also spurted upward following the latest report on the U.S. economy to blow past expectations. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024 Treasury yields spurted higher after a report said U.S. manufacturing unexpectedly returned to growth last month. Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024 Visitors flit between the monumental swimming pool crowned with a glass roof, the thermal pools surrounded by regal lion heads spurting water and walls of Zsolnay porcelain tiles, and the pummeling outdoor wave pool that opens at the end of May every year. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Then in July 2023, lava spurted from a half-mile-long crack at a site named Litli-Hrutur just northeast of the two earlier eruptions. Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 Unselfish basketball keyed that spurt with three assists on the four baskets. Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 Akins ended that spurt with a 3-pointer to give the Spartans back the lead, but Mag’s layup with 14:13 to go seized it right back. Detroit Free Press, 14 Jan. 2024 Most forecasters still expect EV sales to return to the fast lane and spurt on to around 9 million by 2030. Neil Winton, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 In the matter of death, look and learn as one astronaut stabs another in the neck with a screwdriver; blood, rather than spurting or flowing, emerges in little red bubbles—life just fizzing away. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2024
Noun
The Heat went 5:07 of game clock without scoring during the Knicks’ fourth-quarter spurt. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024 Image The dancers’ footwork starts out in fits and spurts, becoming more intricate, more full-bodied as Harris weaves slow motion within blissfully fast crossing feet and lanky arms. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 This ensures that the system is running steadily, rather than in short, inefficient spurts. Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024 Up 30-24 after one quarter, Cleveland opened the second with a 21-4 spurt and led 67-47 at the intermission. Ian Harrison, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 The Heat then gave up that 13-0 spurt and didn’t score again until Rozier’s three-pointer with 45 seconds left. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024 Aim to establish an ongoing dialogue in short spurts rather than one long, formal conversation. Mike Baker, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024 The Cardinal — who rallied from 18 points behind to beat Cal on Wednesday — closed to 60-46 with a 12-2 second-half spurt. Mark Anderson, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The shooting spurts of goo, pus, and assorted bodily fluids are definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but for those who enjoy watching an expert pop pimples, lance boils, and generally improve the quality of her patients' lives, Dr. Pimple Popper is sure to deliver. Briana Richert, James Mercadante, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spurt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

perhaps akin to Middle High German spürzen to spit, Old English -sprūtan to sprout — more at sprout

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1570, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1644, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spurt was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near spurt

Cite this Entry

“Spurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spurt. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

spurt

1 of 4 verb
1
: to pour out suddenly : spout
2

spurt

2 of 4 noun
: a sudden pouring out : jet

spurt

3 of 4 noun
1
: a short period of time : moment
2
: a brief burst of effort, activity, or development
a spurt of work
a growth spurt

spurt

4 of 4 verb
: to make a spurt

More from Merriam-Webster on spurt

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