Bust
verb
To break or damage.
He accidentally busted his phone when he dropped it.

Often appears as...
- bust a gut
- bust a move
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest.
There is a bust of Shakespeare in the library.

Often appears as...
- marble bust
- bronze bust
verb
To catch or arrest someone, especially for doing something illegal.
They bust him for selling stolen goods.

Often appears as...
- bust someone for something
- drug bust
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
An occasion when the police enter a place suddenly to find criminals or illegal activity.
The police made a bust and found illegal drugs in the house.

Often appears as...
- drug bust
- prostitution bust
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A woman's chest as measured around her back and breasts.
She has a 36 inch bust.

Often appears as...
- bust size
- full bust
noun
A time when an activity that involves taking risks ends or fails suddenly.
The technology boom went bust after the dot-com bubble burst.

Often appears as...
- go bust
- boom and bust
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To break or damage.
He accidentally busted his phone when he dropped it.

Often appears as...
- bust a gut
- bust a move
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
noun
A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and upper chest.
There is a bust of Shakespeare in the library.

Often appears as...
- marble bust
- bronze bust
verb
To catch or arrest someone, especially for doing something illegal.
They bust him for selling stolen goods.

Often appears as...
- bust someone for something
- drug bust
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
An occasion when the police enter a place suddenly to find criminals or illegal activity.
The police made a bust and found illegal drugs in the house.

Often appears as...
- drug bust
- prostitution bust
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
noun
A woman's chest as measured around her back and breasts.
She has a 36 inch bust.

Often appears as...
- bust size
- full bust
noun
A time when an activity that involves taking risks ends or fails suddenly.
The technology boom went bust after the dot-com bubble burst.

Often appears as...
- go bust
- boom and bust
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 6

Colloquial Usage
Used informally, often in casual or playful situations, and not typically in formal writing.

I completely busted my sneaker while playing basketball.
Hyperbolic Expression
Exaggerated; not always meaning something is literally broken, but it could just be not working properly.

I busted my diet by eating that cake.
Colloquial Usage
Used informally, often in casual or playful situations, and not typically in formal writing.

I completely busted my sneaker while playing basketball.
Hyperbolic Expression
Exaggerated; not always meaning something is literally broken, but it could just be not working properly.

I busted my diet by eating that cake.
Colloquial Usage
Used informally, often in casual or playful situations, and not typically in formal writing.

I completely busted my sneaker while playing basketball.
Hyperbolic Expression
Exaggerated; not always meaning something is literally broken, but it could just be not working properly.

I busted my diet by eating that cake.
Video examples
A call to men PIPE Tony...
she also never said yes. So he was offering me the opportunity to do the same. So when I go in the room, I close the door. Folks, I'm petrified. I stand with my back to the door so Johnny can't bust in the room and see that I'm not doing anything, and I stand there long enough that I could have actually done something.
Video examples
The history of our world...
a universe appears and the entire universe and we've crossed our first threshold the universe is tiny it's smaller than an atom it's incredibly hot it contains everything that's in today's universe so we can imagine it's busting and it's expanding at incredible speed
Video examples
The history of our world...
And we've crossed our first threshold. The universe is tiny; it's smaller than an atom. It's incredibly hot. It contains everything that's in today's universe, so you can imagine, it's busting. And it's expanding at incredible speed. And at first, it's just a blur,
Video examples
Truckload of Ammo PIPE...
since they're loose there's going to be a good bust this is obviously thousands of rounds we're gonna be here awhile trying to sort it all out but just to give you an idea this tab is around I would say at least three inches deep
Video examples
12 truths I learned from...
And yet, returning to number one, that all truth is paradox, it's also a miracle to get your work published, to get your stories read and heard. Just try to bust yourself gently of the fantasy that publication will heal you,
Video examples
Poetry makes people...
very last line of her poem she says I say into the phone mom it's hard sometimes to know if you're making any difference at all and mom says baby don't you know how lucky you are they used to burn women like you bust down
Video examples
The Mystery of Queen...
bust was originally created. It's one version of Nefertiti's official portrait. She may herself have signed off on this image. But really, we have no idea what she looked like in real life.
Video examples
Beam: The Glastonbury...
the sounds and lights are controlled by honeybees from local bee hives which are found in the farm Michael Eavis the host of busting tree festival
Video examples
Making an Undercover...
I thought to myself, holy, he's going to blow my brains out. So I just said-- ACTOR AS "Hey, listen. Stop busting my balls."
Video examples
Seizing Guns and Cash PIPE...
it's little X variable today's bust is significant agents believe that seizing money and guns helps to dismantle cartels
Video examples
A call to men PIPE Tony...
she also never said yes. So he was offering me the opportunity to do the same. So when I go in the room, I close the door. Folks, I'm petrified. I stand with my back to the door so Johnny can't bust in the room and see that I'm not doing anything, and I stand there long enough that I could have actually done something.
Video examples
The history of our world...
a universe appears and the entire universe and we've crossed our first threshold the universe is tiny it's smaller than an atom it's incredibly hot it contains everything that's in today's universe so we can imagine it's busting and it's expanding at incredible speed
Video examples
The history of our world...
And we've crossed our first threshold. The universe is tiny; it's smaller than an atom. It's incredibly hot. It contains everything that's in today's universe, so you can imagine, it's busting. And it's expanding at incredible speed. And at first, it's just a blur,
Video examples
Truckload of Ammo PIPE...
since they're loose there's going to be a good bust this is obviously thousands of rounds we're gonna be here awhile trying to sort it all out but just to give you an idea this tab is around I would say at least three inches deep
Video examples
12 truths I learned from...
And yet, returning to number one, that all truth is paradox, it's also a miracle to get your work published, to get your stories read and heard. Just try to bust yourself gently of the fantasy that publication will heal you,
Video examples
Poetry makes people...
very last line of her poem she says I say into the phone mom it's hard sometimes to know if you're making any difference at all and mom says baby don't you know how lucky you are they used to burn women like you bust down
Video examples
The Mystery of Queen...
bust was originally created. It's one version of Nefertiti's official portrait. She may herself have signed off on this image. But really, we have no idea what she looked like in real life.
Video examples
Beam: The Glastonbury...
the sounds and lights are controlled by honeybees from local bee hives which are found in the farm Michael Eavis the host of busting tree festival
Video examples
Making an Undercover...
I thought to myself, holy, he's going to blow my brains out. So I just said-- ACTOR AS "Hey, listen. Stop busting my balls."
Video examples
Seizing Guns and Cash PIPE...
it's little X variable today's bust is significant agents believe that seizing money and guns helps to dismantle cartels
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Big Freedia
American Musician
Twerking is just limited to a certain, specific dance where it's hand on the knees and you're busting open. With bounce music, we do a whole lot more and everyone is so unique in the way that they move and their personality.

Quote examples
Lewis Hamilton
British Driver
When I was really young, I busted my nose when I was racing. The first thing my dad asked me was: 'Are you OK?' I said, 'Can you fix the car for tomorrow?' And I won the race the next day.

Quote examples
Steve Prefontaine
American Athlete
Every once in a while I think, 'What am I doing out here running, busting myself up? Life could be so much easier. The other guys are out having fun, doing other things, why not me?

Quote examples
Vin Diesel
American Actor
I'm not really afraid of the dark, except if I'm walking. The thing that scares me the most is the possibility of walking into a wall and busting my lip.

Quote examples
Kate McKinnon
American Actress
You just have to work super hard, and if you have a passion, that's the most beautiful thing in life, and you just have to bust out and do it, baby!

Quote examples
Gene Ween
American Musician
Not after the big bust in '92, there's no big drug lifestyle anymore. I can't talk about it. Pretty ugly.

Quote examples
Ted Nugent
American Singer
I have busted more hippies' noses than all the narcs in the free world.

Quote examples
Jeremy London
American Actor
I don't want to bust my butt for the rest of my life, like my parents.

Quote examples
Drew Barrymore
American Actress
I still can't spell anything, but I can bust out two-dollar words.

Quote examples
Wayne Huizenga
American Businessman
I busted my butt all my life building companies.

Quote examples
Big Freedia
American Musician
Twerking is just limited to a certain, specific dance where it's hand on the knees and you're busting open. With bounce music, we do a whole lot more and everyone is so unique in the way that they move and their personality.

Quote examples
Lewis Hamilton
British Driver
When I was really young, I busted my nose when I was racing. The first thing my dad asked me was: 'Are you OK?' I said, 'Can you fix the car for tomorrow?' And I won the race the next day.

Quote examples
Steve Prefontaine
American Athlete
Every once in a while I think, 'What am I doing out here running, busting myself up? Life could be so much easier. The other guys are out having fun, doing other things, why not me?

Quote examples
Vin Diesel
American Actor
I'm not really afraid of the dark, except if I'm walking. The thing that scares me the most is the possibility of walking into a wall and busting my lip.

Quote examples
Kate McKinnon
American Actress
You just have to work super hard, and if you have a passion, that's the most beautiful thing in life, and you just have to bust out and do it, baby!

Quote examples
Gene Ween
American Musician
Not after the big bust in '92, there's no big drug lifestyle anymore. I can't talk about it. Pretty ugly.

Quote examples
Ted Nugent
American Singer
I have busted more hippies' noses than all the narcs in the free world.

Quote examples
Jeremy London
American Actor
I don't want to bust my butt for the rest of my life, like my parents.

Quote examples
Drew Barrymore
American Actress
I still can't spell anything, but I can bust out two-dollar words.

Quote examples
Wayne Huizenga
American Businessman
I busted my butt all my life building companies.

Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension