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
Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Chaos broke out, but Shipley remained calm.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
The biggest breakout, however, came from Zach Neto, who reinforced Manager Kurt Suzuki’s decision to keep him in the leadoff spot despite a 4-for-30 slump.
—Mark Gonzales, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
Verb
On June 13, the late Queen Elizabeth's cousin, 90, broke out his phone on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in an unexpected moment at King Charles' birthday parade.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Chaos broke out, but Shipley remained calm.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Noun
Those dynamics were already visible when prediction markets emerged as the Super Bowl's breakout winners this year.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
The biggest breakout, however, came from Zach Neto, who reinforced Manager Kurt Suzuki’s decision to keep him in the leadoff spot despite a 4-for-30 slump.
—Mark Gonzales, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
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But when Julián Quiñones of Team Mexico scored the first goal of the tournament, the Fan Fest grounds erupted with cheers from the thousands of fans wearing green, red and white.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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Midland police said the active shooter situation ended hours after the gunfire erupted in one part of the city before ending up near a veterinary hospital and other businesses.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Still, youthful rebellion in virtual reality looks great and the concept of online escapes resonates in an increasingly intense real world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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Located in Tetbury, Calcot Manor & Spa is a Cotswolds escape designed with the whole family in mind.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Birding has exploded from a niche hobby into a mainstream pastime, driven by the pandemic outdoor-recreation boom and amplified by apps and social media.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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At-home microbiome tests have exploded in popularity, fueled by genuine curiosity about gut health and big promises about energy, mood and longevity.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
Noun
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In a news release Wednesday, Kansas City Public Information Officer Jackson Overstreet said three charter flights full of Curaçao fans will begin to arrive at Kansas City International Airport on Thursday.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits all aircraft operations, including drone flights, within a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around certain stadiums hosting World Cup matches.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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