outbreak

noun

out·​break ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk 

1

a

: a sudden or violent increase in activity or currency

the outbreak of war

b

: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease

an outbreak of measles

c

: a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area

an outbreak of locusts

2

: insurrection, revolt

Synonyms of outbreak

• flurry
• burst
• outburst

Examples of outbreak in a Sentence

there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room

the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency

Recent Examples on the Web

Jayendu Krishna, a director at Drewry Maritime Advisors, said none of the major container shipping lines had resumed services through Hormuz since suspending operations following the outbreak of the war in February. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Although the correlation between daily prices has been insignificant, cotton prices and Brent crude prices have followed a similar general pattern since the outbreak of hostilities around Iran. — Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Congo has been having its deadliest outbreak, with at least 4,000 deaths since May. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

The security situation in southern Lebanon has worsened substantially since then, with the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in March. — Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outbreak

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

outbreak

noun

out·​break ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk 

1

: a sudden increase in activity, use, or acceptance

the outbreak of war

2

: something (as an epidemic or revolution) that breaks out

an outbreak of measles

Medical Definition

outbreak

noun

out·​break ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk 

1

: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease

an outbreak of measles

2

: a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area

an outbreak of locusts