Cool MateA grenade went off vs Burst vs Exploded
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A grenade went off
Top 2,000 (common)
Burst
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Exploded
Top 2,000 (common)
| A grenade went off | Burst | Exploded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə ˈɡrəneɪd wɛnt ɒf//🇺🇸 //ə ˈɡrəneɪd wɛnt ɔf// | 🇬🇧 /["/bɜːst/","/bɜːsts/","/ˈbɜːstɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bɜːrst/","/bɜːrsts/","/ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈspləʊdɪd//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈsploʊdɪd// |
| Meaning | An explosion happened when a grenade was used. | To break open suddenly. | Burst with force and cause damage. |
| Example | Just as we arrived, a grenade went off nearby, sending everyone diving for cover. | The balloon will burst if you continue to inflate it. | The bomb exploded in the city center. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | ||
| Collocations | grenade went off unexpectedly, grenade went off in combat, grenade went off suddenly | suddenly, immediately, instantly, be about to, be going to, be ready to, out of, with, be about to, be going to, be ready to, suddenly, immediately, instantly, be about to, be going to, be ready to, out of, with, be about to, be going to, be ready to | explode in anger, explode with laughter, explode violently, explode into flames, explode a myth |
| Antonyms | - | heal, mend, fix | imploded, collapsed, reduced |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'the grenade exploded' - both are correct but vary in style., Using past tense incorrectly - should match the context., Mistaking 'went off' for 'left' - 'went off' refers to an explosion, not departure. | Confused with 'bursting' as a verb form., Incorrectly using 'burst' without an object when it should be 'burst into' or similar., Using 'burst' instead of 'bust' in informal contexts. | Confusing with 'implode', which means to collapse inward., Using 'explosion' instead of 'exploded' in the wrong context. |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts related to warfare or military actions. Avoid casual or light-hearted discussions. | Commonly used to describe something that explodes or breaks apart quickly. Use in informal contexts to describe emotions like laughter or joy, but avoid in formal writing. | Use in contexts involving destruction or sudden release of energy. Avoid in formal writing unless discussing scientific phenomena. |
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Frequently asked questions: A grenade went off vs Burst vs Exploded
What's the difference between A grenade went off, Burst, and Exploded?
A grenade went off: An explosion happened when a grenade was used. Burst: To break open suddenly. Exploded: Burst with force and cause damage.
Can you show an example of each?
A grenade went off: Just as we arrived, a grenade went off nearby, sending everyone diving for cover. Burst: The balloon will burst if you continue to inflate it. Exploded: The bomb exploded in the city center.
Can I use A grenade went off, Burst, and Exploded interchangeably?
Not always. A grenade went off, Burst, and Exploded are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.