break out
verb
broke out; broken out; breaking out; breaks out
1
: to develop or emerge with suddenness or force
fire broke out
a riot broke out
2
a
: 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
1
a
: 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
Examples of break out in a Sentence
in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots
Recent Examples on the Web
Then to add insult to injury, Harrison — one of the players acquired in last summer’s Rafael Devers trade — has broken out as a potential Cy Young Award contender in Milwaukee.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
At least 3,213 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war broke out, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
—Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Young and Wells, who broke out of a 3-for-18 postseason slump, had singles leading off the first and Marlie Giles’ two-out base hit gave Alabama a 1-0 lead.
—Daily News, 29 May 2026
The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 after long-simmering tensions between the army and RSF erupted into a full-out war.
—Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
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Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
At least 3,213 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war broke out, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
—Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Young and Wells, who broke out of a 3-for-18 postseason slump, had singles leading off the first and Marlie Giles’ two-out base hit gave Alabama a 1-0 lead.
—Daily News, 29 May 2026
The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 after long-simmering tensions between the army and RSF erupted into a full-out war.
—Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
Cite this Entry
“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20out. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
breakout
1 of 2 noun
break·out
ˈbrā-ˌkau̇t 
: 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
Stacie Stukin, The Los Angeles TimesBecause 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
Harper's Bazaarbreak out
2 of 2 intransitive verb1
: 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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