outbreak
noun
out·break
ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk 
1
a
: a sudden or violent increase in activity or currency
the outbreak of war
b
: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease
an outbreak of measles
c
: a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area
an outbreak of locusts
2
Examples of outbreak in a Sentence
there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room
the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency
Recent Examples on the Web
The outbreaks have mostly affected children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials.
—
Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
That same jail had a bad outbreak of COVID in 2020, when it was listed by the local health department as an outbreak site associated with 144 cases.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee
february 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
The outbreaks have mostly impacted children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials.
—Matt Brown, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
During last year’s outbreak in Texas, there was a substantial proportion of cases in adults older than 20, Moss says.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
That same jail had a bad outbreak of COVID in 2020, when it was listed by the local health department as an outbreak site associated with 144 cases.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee
february 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
The outbreaks have mostly impacted children and have come as infectious disease experts warn that rising public distrust of vaccines generally may be contributing to the spread of a disease once declared eradicated by public health officials.
—Matt Brown, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
During last year’s outbreak in Texas, there was a substantial proportion of cases in adults older than 20, Moss says.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outbreak. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outbreak
noun
out·break
ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk
1
: a sudden increase in activity, use, or acceptance
the outbreak of war
2
: something (as an epidemic or revolution) that breaks out
an outbreak of measles
Medical Definition
outbreak
noun
out·break
ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk
1
: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease
an outbreak of measles
2
: a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area
an outbreak of locusts
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