Thesaurus results for BREAKING OUT

breaking out

verb

present participle of break out

as in erupting

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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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 breaking out Frustration is boiling over, and fights are breaking out between people struggling to buy rationed supplies of gasoline. —

Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 June 2026 Toph escapes the clutches of her mother — who poisoned and kidnapped her — by revealing her earthbending powers, breaking out of the metal cage to rejoin Team Avatar. —

Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Born in 1958 in working-class New Cross, South London, Oldman came up through British theater before breaking out in the 1980s playing dangerous, damaged men, from Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy to playwright Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears. —

Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 Raleigh snapped the longest hitless streak in the major leagues during the team’s 10-2 win over the Astors on Tuesday, breaking out of an 0-38 slump with a pair of singles. —

Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 Rookies were instructed through stretches and warmups before breaking out into positional drills during the media-viewing portion of rookie minicamp. —

David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026 Height turned 25 two weeks ago after playing six seasons at four schools, finally breaking out with the Red Raiders in 2025. —

Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 Perry sat behind upperclassmen for two seasons, before breaking out as a junior and leading the Wolverines to two state championships. —

Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026 Survival of the mid-major programs depends on breaking out and forming their own conglomeration. —

Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking out

Verb

Across the United States, the sky will be erupting with fireworks on July 4, 2026, and the days around it as America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence.

— Lauren Lowman, The Conversation, 29 June 2026
The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has shot up draft boards after notching 84 points (29 goals and 55 assists) in 67 games for OHL Brantford, then erupting for another 26 (13 goals and 13 assists) in 15 playoff games.

— Peter Baugh, New York Times, 19 June 2026

Definition of erupting

Verb

Flashes from exploding drones and missiles lit up the night, and loud booms echoed through Kyiv.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
As SkyCal flew towards Huntington Park, dozens of rounds of fireworks were seen exploding over parts of Los Angeles, just minutes after the whistles blew in Estadio Azteca, surpassing the Round of 32 for the first time since 2018.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 1 July 2026