What does spurted mean?
Spurted is the past tense and past participle of spurt, a verb expressing a sudden, brief burst of movement, activity, effort, or discharge. A person or vehicle may spurt forward, while a team may spurt into action or a project may spurt ahead. The word often conveys greater energy or intensity than a general movement such as moved or ran, but it also implies that the increase is temporary rather than sustained. In the physical sense, a substance can spurt from a container in a sudden jet. Spurted can therefore describe both literal motion and figurative surges in activity, performance, or development. Its image is of an abrupt release of energy: quick, forceful, and short-lived. This makes it particularly useful for reporting a brief acceleration, a decisive change in pace, or a sudden increase in effort.
verbSpurted is the past tense and past participle of spurt: it describes moving suddenly and quickly for a short time, or a sudden brief increase in activity, effort, or discharge.
- Moved suddenly and quickly for a short time.
- Increased suddenly and briefly in activity, effort, or intensity.
- Issued or emerged in a sudden, brief burst.
"The runners spurted forward as the starting gun fired."
"The car spurted forward when the traffic light changed."
"Research into the disease spurted after the new treatment was announced."
A spurt is not a marathon or even a sprint; it is the sudden burst of speed that gives an action its dramatic kick.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spurted come from?
Spurted is formed by adding the usual English past-tense and past-participle ending to spurt. Spurt is an English verb and noun associated with a sudden burst, jet, or burst of activity; the word's deeper historical origin is not securely established. The modern verb senses developed from the idea of issuing or moving in a sudden, forceful burst.
Related word forms
How spurted is actually used
The word is neutral in register but usually suggests a brief, noticeable, and often energetic change. It is especially common for movement and figurative increases in activity or effort.
Easily confused with spurted
Spurted describes a sudden, brief burst of movement or activity, whereas spurred can mean urged or stimulated by something.