What does blurt mean?
To blurt is to speak suddenly and without forethought, usually letting slip something one meant to keep quiet or saying something before one has had time to weigh it. The verb almost always appears with the particle 'out' — 'blurt out a secret', 'blurt out an answer' — and it carries a strong connotation of impulsiveness and indiscretion rather than simple haste. Someone who blurts is not merely quick; they have momentarily lost control of the filter between thought and speech. The word suits informal and conversational registers, appearing frequently in narratives about confessions, awkward social moments, and classroom scenes where an eager student calls out prematurely. Its likely origins are imitative: early forms such as 'blurt' and 'blurt out' emerged in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century English, apparently coined to echo the ungainly sound of words tumbling from the mouth. For writers, it offers a compact way to signal spontaneity, nervousness, or a lapse in tact, and it pairs naturally with secrets, feelings, and apologies.
verbTo say something suddenly and without careful thought, typically revealing information impulsively or indiscreetly.
- To utter suddenly and impulsively, without deliberation or regard for consequences (usually 'blurt out').
"She blurted out the answer before the teacher had finished asking the question."
"He blurted out that he had lost the money before he could stop himself."
"Nervous and unprepared, she blurted her entire speech in under a minute."
Linguists think 'blurt' may be imitative in origin — coined to mimic the very sound of words tumbling clumsily out of someone's mouth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blurt
The verb 'blurt' first appears in English in the latter half of the sixteenth century, with related forms attested into the seventeenth. Its origin is generally regarded as imitative or expressive in character — a word coined to suggest the abrupt, clumsy sound of unrestrained speech — rather than being derived from any documented root in Latin, Greek, or another language. It has no established cognates in other languages, and its earliest uses already carried the sense of speaking suddenly and indiscreetly that persists today.
How blurt is actually used
Almost always used with the particle 'out' ('blurt out') in modern English; bare 'blurt' occurs but is less common. The word carries a connotation of indiscretion or loss of self-control rather than mere speed of speech, so it is unsuitable for describing deliberate, articulate statements.
Easily confused with blurt
'Blur' means to make something unclear or indistinct, while 'blurt' means to say something suddenly and without thinking.