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
Relevance
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
the captives had been planning to stage a breakout at the next change in shift for the guards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Of course, relying on second-year players to break out isn't exactly a plan.
—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 July 2025
Renfrow, who is attempting a comeback following a year away from the NFL due to illness, has been a breakout star in the early days of camp.
—Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for break out
Verb
Each position group breaks out to work together in one part of the Giants’ three practice fields.
—Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Of course, relying on second-year players to break out isn't exactly a plan.
—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Noun
By half-time, Wiegman’s side were 2-0 down, but two goals in three minutes from veteran player Lucy Bronze and 19-year-old breakout star Michelle Agyemang put England level nine minutes before full-time.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 July 2025
Renfrow, who is attempting a comeback following a year away from the NFL due to illness, has been a breakout star in the early days of camp.
—Charlotte Observer, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for break out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
-
Clashes erupted elsewhere in the city over the federal government’s drive to promote Hindi – a language closely tied to the BJP’s northern power base and often seen as central to the party’s vision of national unity and Hindu identity.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
26 July 2025
-
The stadium continued to erupt with cheers as Beyoncé stood in awe, moved by the energy and love surrounding her.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
Lake Placid’s renaissance has transformed it into Central Florida's most surprising small-town escape with an unhurried pace and a slice of Americana.—
Rebecca Deurlein,
Southern Living,
22 July 2025
-
For Carrington, born in 1917, art was an escape from her genteel, repressive British upbringing.—
Celia Bell
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
This lack of exchange didn't go unnoticed, and social media exploded with rumors that the former costars are still not on friendly terms.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
18 July 2025
-
The pair were caught on the jumbotron in an intimate embrace during the band’s show in Boston on Wednesday night, which exploded into an inadvertent, viral hard-launch of their apparent affair by Thursday morning.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Online sleuths who closely track SpaceX's activities at Starbase, Texas, have concluded the rocket recovered from the Gulf is Booster 13, which flew on the sixth test flight of the Starship mega-rocket last November.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
-
As there was no doctor on board, the Air India flight crew created space for the woman to deliver her baby at around 35,000 feet with the assistance of a nurse passenger, The Hindustan Times reported.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share