spring forth

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitiveliterary

   to suddenly come out or appear, especially in a lively or plentiful way.

   Grammar: No object; often followed by 'from' to say where something comes from: 'a stream sprang forth from the rock'.

   Patterns

   • spring forth from something
   • spring forth into something

   Water sprang forth from the crack in the dry ground.

   New ideas sprang forth at the meeting once the manager stopped talking.

   In the poem, flowers spring forth wherever the hero walks.

2. 2verbintransitiveliterary

   to begin to exist or develop quickly and with energy.

   Grammar: No object; used about things such as businesses, movements or feelings that appear suddenly.

   Patterns

   • spring forth from something

   A whole industry sprang forth from that one small invention.

   Hope sprang forth again after the peace agreement.

Word forms

Common combinations

spring forth from

A stream sprang forth from the hillside after the rain.

spring forth into life

The garden seemed to spring forth into life in early April.

ideas spring forth

During the workshop, ideas sprang forth faster than we could write them down.

water springs forth

In the story, water springs forth from the rock when the prophet strikes it.

Synonyms and how they differ

emerge

More neutral and common in writing about facts; 'spring forth' adds a sense of sudden, lively movement.

burst out

Suggests a sudden release of sound or feeling, while 'spring forth' is more often used for water, plants or ideas.

gush

Used mainly for liquid coming out strongly; 'spring forth' can also describe ideas or growth.

Opposites

Word family

spring verb

to move suddenly upward or forward

sprang verb

past tense of spring

sprung verb

past participle of spring

Commonly confused: spring forth or spring forward?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “spring forth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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