break out 1 of 2

as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots

Synonyms & Similar Words

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breakout

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break out
Verb
Taylor confronted Mitchell about the way the older man had been talking to Wright, and a fight broke out in the house before the men could be separated. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 11 June 2025 Protests broke out in Los Angeles over the weekend after federal agents arrested immigrants in L.A.’s fashion district, in a Home Depot parking lot and at several other locations Friday. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Noun
TriStar Pictures has announced early development on a sequel to One of Them Days, the breakout comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 5 June 2025 This would suggest that a break above $355 would represent a significant breakout driven by an influx of buying power. David Keller, CNBC, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for break out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
  • The 2,000 guardsmen called up for duty is double the number that were assigned by local authorities to respond to much wider protests that erupted throughout Los Angeles in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
    Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
  • Screams erupted for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, while the boos were deafening for Oilers star Connor McDavid.
    Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • Authorities said the woman knew of Massey's escape plans in advance, communicated with him after his escape, and misled authorities.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2025
  • From there, the group flooded inside the jail cell, then separated the toilet from the wall and made their escape through the resulting hole.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • The audience size hasn’t exploded, but the number of brands chasing them has.
    Waleed Najam, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Flight Pan Am 103 was en route from Heathrow to JFK when a bomb exploded in its hold over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people, including 43 British citizens and 190 Americans.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • The man landed in California via a commercial flight and made contact with his legal team while waiting in line to go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Trina Realmuto of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
  • On Friday, at least 14 commercial and charter flights were landing in Miami from Havana, according to flight information from the airport.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 7 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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