spurt

UK: /ˈspɜː^rt/ US: /spɝt/ ,(spûrt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

spurt /spɜrt/   v. 

1. to gush out of something in a stream or jet:
   [no object] Blood spurted from the wound.
2. to discharge quickly and forcefully, as a stream of liquid:
   [~ + object] The wound was spurting blood.
3. to show a sudden brief increase in activity, speed, etc.:
   [no object] The economy spurted in the first part of the year.

n. [countable]

4. a sudden, forceful jet:
   a spurt of blood.
5. a sudden increase of activity or effort for a short period or distance:
   a spurt of economic activity.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

spurt (spûrt),  v.i. 

1. to gush or issue suddenly in a stream or jet, as a liquid;
   spout.
2. to show marked, usually increased, activity or energy for a short period:
   The runners spurted forward in the last lap of the race.

v.t. 

3. to expel or force out suddenly in a stream or jet, as a liquid;
   spout.

n. 

4. a sudden, forceful gush or jet.
5. a marked increase of effort for a short period or distance, as in running, rowing, etc.
6. a sudden burst or outburst, as of activity, energy, or feeling.

Also, spirt. 

• 1560–70; variant of spirt; origin, originally uncertain

spurt′er, n. 
spur′tive, adj. 
spur′tive•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. well, spring. See flow. 
• 4. spout.

Antonyms

• 1. drip, ooze.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spurt, spirt / spɜːt/ verb

1. to gush or cause to gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
2. to make a sudden effort

noun

1. a sudden forceful stream or jet
2. a short burst of activity, speed, or energy

Etymology: 16th Century: perhaps related to Middle High German sprützen to squirt