a powerful eruption

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a powerful eruption" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a volcanic eruption that is particularly strong or intense. Example: "The scientists warned the residents about the potential for a powerful eruption from the nearby volcano."

✓ Grammatically correct

Volcanology

Geology

Astronomy

General News

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A powerful eruption of the Colima volcano in Mexico on 13 December 2015.

The Guardian - Travel

Voight foresaw the bulge's failure, followed by the collapse of the mountain's north flank as well as a powerful eruption.

Wikipedia

At that time, few could imagine that this open architecture would fuel such a powerful eruption of economic, social and political creativity.

Huffington Post

Novas are stars that are undergoing a powerful eruption, causing them to brighten significantly, so that they appear suddenly in the night sky where previously no star was visible.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

CASTLE ROCK, Wash., Oct. 2 - Scientists monitoring Mount St. Helens, which erupted Friday for the first time in 18 years with a minor explosion, said on Saturday that they were expecting a more powerful eruption within a day or so.

The New York Times

It is unknown if the caldera was always there or if it is a relatively recent feature, and it is possible that it has come and gone throughout Kīlauea's eruptive history; what is known is that it likely formed over several centuries, with its construction estimated to have begun about 500 years ago, and that its present form was finalized by a particularly powerful eruption in 1790.

Wikipedia

A second, more powerful, eruption occurred when magma burst through at another point.

The Guardian

This time, however, the story revolves around a special group of Skylanders from the mysterious Cloud Break Islands who have been ejected into the human world by a powerful volcanic eruption.

The Guardian - Tech

Once at Brooks, you can take a day trip to the nearby Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, created when a powerful 1912 eruption of the Novarupta Volcano left a 40-square-mile area covered in volcanic ash, where countless wisps of steam still seep out through holes and fissures from the heated ground below.

The New York Times - Travel

MAGUWOHARJO, Indonesia — A powerful overnight eruption of Mount Merapi created chaos for Indonesia's disaster response effort on Friday after an explosion of hot gases and debris killed scores of people and sent more than 160,000 villagers fleeing to underprepared evacuation camps.

The New York Times

For example, it is widely believed that the ancient Minoan civilization of the eastern Mediterranean collapsed following a powerful volcanic eruption on the island of Thera (also called Santorini) in the mid-second millennium BCE.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use descriptive adjectives with "eruption", such as "powerful", "violent", or "sudden", to convey the intensity and nature of the event. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate adjective.

Common error

Avoid solely relying on "powerful" to describe eruptions. Instead, specify what makes the eruption powerful: the height of the ash cloud, the volume of lava, or the destructive impact. This provides a more vivid and informative description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a powerful eruption" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound. The adjective "powerful" modifies the noun "eruption", indicating a high degree of intensity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a powerful eruption" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase to describe a forceful release of energy or matter, most often associated with volcanic activity. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for general use and can be found across various contexts, including news reports, scientific publications, and encyclopedia entries. While the word "eruption" itself implies force, the addition of "powerful" emphasizes the scale and intensity of the event. When using this phrase, writers should consider specifying what makes the eruption powerful to provide more vivid and informative descriptions. Common alternatives include "an intense explosion", "a violent outburst", and "a major volcanic event". It's worth noting that while most of its usages appear in the news or scientific publications, contexts of use can vary widely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an intense explosion

Replaces "eruption" with "explosion", focusing on the rapid and forceful release of energy. It can be used for both volcanic and non-volcanic events.

a substantial explosion

Similar to "intense explosion" but emphasizes the size and impact of the explosion.

a violent outburst

Emphasizes the sudden and uncontrolled nature of the event, suitable for describing emotional or physical events.

a major volcanic event

Focuses specifically on volcanic activity but uses a more general term than "eruption."

a significant discharge

Highlights the release aspect but is less specific about the nature of the event; applicable to various kinds of emissions or releases.

a massive outpouring

Stresses the large quantity of material being released, suitable for lava, ash, or other ejected substances.

a devastating surge

Highlights the destructive power and sudden onset of the event, applicable to pyroclastic flows or other rapid movements of material.

a cataclysmic upheaval

Implies a destructive and transformative event, often on a large scale, suitable for describing the broader impact of an eruption.

an energetic release

Focuses on the energy aspect, useful when the energy released is more relevant than the material ejected.

a forceful emission

Emphasizes the strength and directness of the release, suitable for describing gases or particles.

FAQs

How can I use "a powerful eruption" in a sentence?

You can use "a powerful eruption" to describe volcanic events, solar flares, or even metaphorical situations where something bursts forth with great force. For example, "The volcano experienced "a powerful eruption", sending ash high into the atmosphere".

What can I say instead of "a powerful eruption"?

You can use alternatives like "an intense explosion", "a violent outburst", or "a major volcanic event" depending on the specific context you're describing.

Is it redundant to say "a powerful eruption", or are there weaker eruptions?

While "eruption" already implies a forceful event, using "powerful" emphasizes the intensity and scale of the eruption. It is not necessarily redundant, as eruptions can vary in strength, and specifying ""a powerful eruption"" highlights its magnitude.

What are the consequences of "a powerful eruption"?

The consequences of ""a powerful eruption"" can range from localized ashfall and lava flows to global climate impacts, depending on the scale and location of the eruption. These can include destruction of property, loss of life, and disruptions to air travel.