break out 1 of 2

Definition of break outnext
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

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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
Just sitting down with the IRS makes some people break out in a cold sweat. John Csiszar, CNBC, 22 May 2026 The fight allegedly broke out over seating at the ceremony among parents at Queens of the Apostles School in Toledo, Ohio, on the morning of Thursday, May 21, according to local outlets WTVG, WTOL and The Toledo Blade. Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
Noun
Teddy really got that this season by doing these breakout surgeries and finding her own voice. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 Chemical sunscreens, which contain ingredients like octisalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone, can sometimes cause breakouts and irritation of acne-prone skin. Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for break out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
  • Two EMTs were responding to a call about an elderly patient when gunfire erupted and an 18-year-old was shot in the stomach nearby.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
  • This latest Ebola outbreak is unfolding alongside a frightening hantavirus outbreak that erupted on a cruise ship.
    Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • The guest rooms were designed to emulate a lakeside escape, while the hotel’s corridor carpets mimic a sandy beach.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
  • But any book across any genre can be an escape depending on your tastes and preferences.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • And three flight simulators—one with 4D motion—will give the kids a thrill.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
  • Like on the par-4 14th hole Monday, when her usual left-to-right ball flight with the driver went in the opposite direction and sailed into a hillside abutting the fairway.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • As captain, Poulin got the 35-pound Walter Cup first, lifting it over her head as confetti exploded around her.
    Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • The persistent growth reflects the exploding capital expenditures from hyperscalers, which are snapping up GPUs for their data center computing infrastructure that underpins their AI initiatives.
    Katie Tarasov,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 20 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

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