eruption

noun

erup·​tion i-ˈrəp-shən 

1

a

: an act, process, or instance of erupting

b

: the breaking out of a rash on the skin or mucous membrane

2

: a product of erupting (such as a skin rash)

Synonyms of eruption

• explosion
• outburst
• burst

Examples of eruption in a Sentence

a great eruption of glee as it suddenly dawned on her that she had won

the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa was one of the most violent in global history

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Nana Yobo, volcanic eruptions cooled the Earth's surface by blocking sunlight, which disrupted temperature and salinity in the North Atlantic Ocean — key drivers of the AMOC — leading to a slowdown. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026

The necking is estimated to have begun about 4 million years ago as a result of widespread volcanic eruptions. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

Frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, everything in the city became buried beneath a blanket of ash and pumice. —Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026

This preserved ancient Roman city was frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. —Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eruption

• creeping eruption
• post-eruption

Rhymes for eruption

• corruption
• disruption
• irruption
• incorruption
• interruption

Kids Definition

eruption

noun

erup·​tion i-ˈrəp-shən 

1

: an act, process, or instance of erupting

2

: a product (as a skin rash) of erupting

Medical Definition

eruption

noun

erup·​tion i-ˈrəp-shən 

1

: an act, process, or instance of erupting

the eruption of the tooth from the gum

specifically : the breaking out of an exanthem or enanthem on the skin or mucous membrane (as in measles)

2

: something produced by an act or process of erupting: as

a

: the condition of the skin or mucous membrane caused by erupting

b

: one of the lesions (as a pustule) constituting this condition