burst into laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

'burst into laughter' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express a sudden or unexpected outburst of laughter. For example, "The comedian's joke was so funny that the entire audience burst into laughter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I burst into laughter.

The New York Times

They all burst into laughter.

The New Yorker

The officers burst into laughter.

The New Yorker

Mr. Edwards burst into laughter.

The New York Times - Arts

The room burst into laughter.

The Economist

Montag's colleagues burst into laughter.

The New Yorker

She burst into laughter.

The New York Times - Arts

He burst into laughter.

The New York Times

Shiferaw: Everyone burst into laughter.

The Washington Post

We both burst into laughter.

The New York Times - Health

All four burst into laughter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "burst into laughter" with descriptive details of the person's facial expression or body language to create a more engaging and memorable image for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "burst into laughter" when a more subdued reaction is intended. Phrases like "chuckle" or "smile" might be more appropriate for less intense amusement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "burst into laughter" functions as a verb phrase indicating a sudden and involuntary expression of amusement. It describes the action of people starting to laugh suddenly. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "burst into laughter" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a sudden expression of amusement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and provides numerous examples from reputable sources. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media, accurately portraying immediate reactions. While alternatives like "erupt in laughter" or "roar with laughter" offer slight variations in meaning, "burst into laughter" remains a vivid and effective way to convey spontaneous amusement. It's best used when emphasizing the suddenness of the reaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erupt in laughter

Uses "erupt" to emphasize the suddenness and force of the laughter, similar to a volcanic eruption.

roar with laughter

Emphasizes the loudness and intensity of the laughter.

break into laughter

A more gradual transition into laughter compared to "burst into laughter".

dissolve into laughter

Suggests the laughter is overwhelming and consuming the person.

chuckle heartily

Describes a warm and genuine, but potentially quieter, expression of amusement.

guffaw loudly

Focuses on a boisterous and unrestrained type of laughter.

crack up

An informal way to describe a sudden fit of laughter.

split their sides laughing

An idiomatic expression indicating uncontrollable laughter.

be in stitches

An idiomatic expression indicating prolonged and intense laughter.

find something hilarious

Describes the cause of the laughter rather than the act itself.

FAQs

How can I use "burst into laughter" in a sentence?

You can use "burst into laughter" to describe a sudden, explosive expression of amusement, as in "The comedian's joke was so unexpected that the audience "burst into laughter"".

What's the difference between "burst into laughter" and "break into laughter"?

"Burst into laughter" suggests a more sudden and immediate reaction, while "break into laughter" implies a more gradual transition to laughter.

What can I say instead of "burst into laughter"?

You can use alternatives such as "erupt in laughter", "roar with laughter", or "dissolve into laughter" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "burst out laughing" instead of "burst into laughter"?

Both "burst into laughter" and "burst out laughing" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning, but "burst into laughter" is the slightly more formal of the two.