Synonyms of break out

break out 1 of 2

verb

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

• erupt
• burst (forth)
• explode
• flare (up)
• blaze (up)
• flame
• swell
• mount
• rocket
• skyrocket
• touch off
• proliferate
• multiply
• wax
• detonate
• mushroom
• snowball
• blow up
• balloon
• burgeon

breakout

2 of 2

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌau̇t 

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

• escape
• flight
• break
• rout
• getaway
• bunk
• rescue
• slip
• liberation
• lam
• redemption
• release
• salvation
• deliverance
• jailbreak
• close call
• close shave
• near miss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confinement
• imprisonment
• incarceration
• captivity
• retention
• holding
• custody
• risk
• detention
• trouble
• hold
• internment
• hazard
• jeopardy
• immurement
• peril
• imperilment
• endangerment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of break out

Verb

This summer an OpenAI test model broke out of its sandbox, reasoned its way into another company’s servers and stole answers to cheat on its own evaluation. — Pam McNall, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026

There's nothing wrong with breaking out the stiff arm every now and again to set the record straight. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Noun

Our smile lines will fade, our dark spots will ease up, our breakouts will clear. — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026

The book from publisher Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, was a BookTok breakout. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026