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break·out | \ ˈbrāk-ˌau̇t 
\
\Definition of breakout
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : a violent or forceful break from a restraining condition or situation especially : a military attack to break from encirclement
2 : an eruption or inflammation of the skin
Because stress can throw your hormones out of balance, it can make normal sebaceous glands produce oil at an increased rate, causing breakouts.— Harper's Bazaar
breakout
adjectiveDefinition of breakout (Entry 2 of 3)
: being or relating to a sudden or smashing success especially in comparison to previous efforts
a breakout book
break out
verbbroke out; broken out; breaking out; breaks out
Definition of break out (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : to develop or emerge with suddenness or force
fire broke out a riot broke out
2a : to become covered
break out in a sweat
b : to become affected with an eruption or inflammation of the skin
break out in hives his face broke out with acne
3 : to make a break from a restraining condition or situation
broke out of a slump broke out of jail
1a : to make ready for action or use
break out the tents and make camp
b : to produce for consumption
break out a bottle of champagne
2 : to display flying and unfurled
3 : to separate from a mass of data
break out newsstand sales
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Examples of breakout in a Sentence
Noun
the captives had been planning to stage a breakout at the next change in shift for the guards Adjective
The company had a breakout year last year, tripling its profits from the previous year. Verb
in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Junior-college transfer Brandin Echols has been a revelation though, and sophomore safety Yusuf Corker has been the defense’s breakout star.
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Cameron Teague Robinson, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville vs. Kentucky: Here's who has the advantage at each position for Governor's Cup," 29 Nov. 2019 Daniels, who completed his first 11 passes, had a breakout moment in what has already been a stellar freshman campaign but his receivers did their part.
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Michelle Gardner, azcentral, "Sun Devils pull stunner, upset No. 6 Oregon," 23 Nov. 2019 Buttigieg leads in two states prior to debate Forget breakout moments.
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Chris Sikich, Indianapolis Star, "November Democratic debate: Live updates of Pete Buttigieg's performance," 21 Nov. 2019 The first votes will be cast in the 2020 Democratic primary in less than 3 months, and the 10 candidates on the debate stage Wednesday night were all looking for a breakout moment.
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Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY, "Democratic debate: Here are the winners and losers from the November match-up," 21 Nov. 2019 Here, breakout star Josh O’Connor talks to BAZAAR.com about portraying the longest-waiting heir in history and what’s in store for his next act.
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Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "The breakout star explains Charles’s investiture, Camilla Shand relationship, and tensions with the queen in Season 3.," 18 Nov. 2019 Vogueworld Shia LaBeouf Continues His Winning Streak of Statement Shoes
This year, Shia LaBeouf has been quietly proving himself as a breakout red carpet style star.
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Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Shia LaBeouf Continues His Winning Streak of Statement Shoes," 6 Nov. 2019 About 13,000 curious attendees filled the arena for this year’s event, eclipsing the former record-setting crowd of 9,000 in 2007, when then-candidate Barack Obama had his breakout moment at what was then known as the Jefferson-Jackson dinner.
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NBC News, "At Iowa dinner, 13 Democrat presidential hopefuls try to find a breakout moment," 2 Nov. 2019 During the debates, each campaign gathers in a side room and nervously watches on a screen, hoping for a breakout moment.
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Laura Bassett, Marie Claire, "The President Makers," 23 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective American Ashley Wagner was a surprise omission from the U.S. figure skating roster after Tennell's breakout performances in Skate America and the national championships.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Everything you need to know about the Winter Olympics," 8 Feb. 2018 American Ashley Wagner was a surprise omission from the U.S. figure skating roster after Tennell's breakout performances in Skate America and the national championships.
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The Washington Post, chicagotribune.com, "Everything you need to know about the Winter Olympics," 7 Feb. 2018 Sparring Partner Next year's breakout Victoria's Secret supermodel, who has a mean right cross.
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Benjy Hansen-bundy, GQ, "How To Be Better Than Everyone Else In 2018," 7 Feb. 2018 The evening featured a panel presentation and interactive breakout discussion groups aimed to empower singles to share their common experiences and ideas for proactive solutions.
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Sergio Carmona, Jewish Journal, "South Beach soiree attracts Jewish singles looking for love," 7 Feb. 2018 Johnson said via email, before her breakout weekend.
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Chadd Cripe, idahostatesman, "U.S. Olympians with ties to Idaho include skier, snowboarders | Idaho Statesman," 6 Feb. 2018 Bartosz Kapustka, a player hyped for his breakout performances for Poland at Euro 2016, failed to play a single Premier League game last season and was loaned to Freiburg for 2017-18.
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SI.com, "Extent of Leicester's Poor 2016 Recruitment Made Clear After Last Signings Leave Club," 2 Feb. 2018 Similarly, Haddish’s spirited turn in Girls Trip was one of the breakout performances of 2017.
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Eliza Berman, Time, "The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2018 Oscar Nominations," 23 Jan. 2018 Camila Mendes is best known for her breakout performance as pithy former mean girl Veronica Lodge on The CW's Riverdale.
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Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Riverdale's Camila Mendes Impersonates the Internet," 18 Jan. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Authorities said two women were injured when a fire broke out in a rowhouse.
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USA TODAY, "Bei Bei goes bye-bye, human compost company, Confederate statue whisked away: News from around our 50 states," 21 Nov. 2019 Police said their preliminary investigation revealed that Honey and the victim were watching the LSU-Alabama game when a verbal then physical fight broke out.
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oregonlive, "Afternoon watching the LSU-Alabama game in Bend ends in shooting," 10 Nov. 2019 Police said Reynaldo Armstead, 27, was at the downtown bar when a fight broke out.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Man charged with attempted murder in shooting at downtown Anchorage bar," 8 Nov. 2019 Over the weekend, the Diablo winds in and around Sonoma County, where the Kincade Fire exploded in recent days, were on par with what the area saw when multiple fires broke out the week of Oct. 8, 2017.
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Kurtis Alexander, SFChronicle.com, "Are infamous Diablo winds responsible for recent wildfires?," 29 Oct. 2019 The fourth- and fifth-grade boys were home when the fire broke out, according to NBC affiliate WDIV.
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Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, "Michigan brothers ages 9 and 11, killed in house fire before school," 29 Oct. 2019 Spooky spots: Ghosts are said to haunt the Oriental Theater (formerly the Iroquois Theater) in the Loop area of downtown Chicago, where almost 600 people perished when a fire famously broke out in 1903.
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Condé Nast Traveler, "8 Most Haunted Cities in America That You Should Visit," 25 Oct. 2019 While most of us are starting to break out their winter coats, Rihanna is stripping down to a bikini—and looking incredible while doing so.
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Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Rihanna Shows Off Her Incredible Abs and Legs in Black Bikini Video on Instagram," 18 Oct. 2019 Derrick McCargo, 50, was not at home when a fire broke out in a vacant row house attached to his home on Oct. 10 in the Easterwood neighborhood of West Baltimore.
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Catherine Rentz, baltimoresun.com, "Community leaders sound alarm over fires in West Baltimore vacant homes," 14 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breakout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for breakout
breakout
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of breakout
(Entry 1 of 2)
: an escape from a prison, jail, etc.
breakout
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of breakout (Entry 2 of 2)
US : having, causing, or marked by sudden and great success that comes usually after a time without much success
breakout
nounbreak·out | \ ˈbrā-ˌkau̇t \
\Medical Definition of breakout
(Entry 1 of 2)
: an eruption or inflammation of the skin
This is especially true for those who have acne and are desperate to stop breakouts without taking prescription antibiotics …— Stacie Stukin, The Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2007 Because stress can throw your hormones out of balance, it can make normal sebaceous glands produce oil at an increased rate, causing breakouts. — Harper's Bazaar, May 1981
break out
intransitive verb\ (ˈ)brā-ˈkau̇t \
\Medical Definition of break out (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to be affected with a skin eruption and especially one indicative of the presence of a particular disease
breaking out with measles
2 of a disease : to manifest itself by skin eruptions
3 : to become covered with
break out in a sweat
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The first known use of breakout was before the 12th century
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