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
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Recent Examples of break out
CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Just break out the can opener, give them a quick rinse.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Brazeau’s offensive breakout has been an even bigger surprise.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
Verb
In Dnipro district, parts of a drone damaged a multistory building and a fire broke out.
—Noun
The ongoing breakout in fighting is the most severe yet, and has exposed Washington as unable to fully contain the situation.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
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Protests have erupted in American cities since.—
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Near the airport, some confrontations erupted on Thursday and Friday between smaller groups of protesters and agents guarding the federal building used as a base for the Twin Cities crackdown.—
Noun
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In a world that feels increasingly unpredictable and even scary, cozy romances offer the perfect escape.—
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The 60 rooms and nine suites are bright and breezy, perfect for an island escape in the city.—
Noun
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The system supports more than 10 smart flight modes, including Snorkel Mode and Mount Mode, expanding how users can capture footage on and around water.—
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Using your airline’s app can also give you access to the most recent updates regarding gate changes, flight delays, and more.—
Verb
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The popularity of sporting events in Greater Miami and Miami Beach has exploded in recent years, and the destination is now an essential part of many international sporting circuits.—
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Two years later, the police-community relations issue would explode with global reverberations when George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who had kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.—
Cite this Entry
“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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