break·out
ˈbrāk-ˌau̇t 
plural breakouts
1
: a violent or forceful break from a restraining condition or situation: such as
a
: a military attack to break from encirclement
b
: an escape from prison or jail
2
a
: 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
Harper's Bazaar
b
: an outbreak of disease
a measles breakout
3
: a success or accomplishment especially in comparison to previous efforts
His breakout in 2006 felt like one of those too-good-to-be-true narratives …—S. L. Price
S. L. Price4
: breakout session
They met in breakouts to exchange beat information and story ideas on the crucial coverage areas …—Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher5
ice hockey
: a play that moves the puck out of the defensive zone
… several drills during practice stressed short, crisp passing on the breakouts.—David J. Neal
David J. Neal1
: being or relating to a sudden or overwhelming success especially in comparison to previous efforts
a breakout book
2
: being, relating to, or used in a breakout session
a breakout discussion
breakout activities
… some students have thrived in the small groups afforded by virtual breakout rooms.—Jal Mehta
Jal MehtaIn breakout groups, they debated which proposals would have the most impact, but also the most support.—Hannan Adely
Hannan Adely
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
Synonyms
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
Recent Examples on the WebLacey Muinos, Health, 25 Apr. 2024
The condition can also show up as dry skin, swollen skin or acne breakouts that won’t clear up with treatment.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 24 Apr. 2024
The retinol minimizes breakouts, while niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, soothes and protects skin.
—Kate Watson, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024
These single-use pads are enriched in PHAs, plus 77% heartleaf extract and centella asiatica extract to limit sebum production, prevent breakouts, and calm stressed skin.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
The company will continue to release breakouts of revenue by region each quarter as well as the F/X.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Shaheen, a 25-year-old writer with a marketing background, is the new breakout star of the self-help genre.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
In a breakout season, Kuminga is averaging 16.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
He’s torn between homes, between flashbacks and the present, and, naturally, between women — the caustic Ms. Sofia Mori (a very funny Sandra Oh) and the tantalizing distraction of the General’s daughter, Lana (breakout newcomer Vy Le).
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024
Atlus is currently enjoying a renaissance thanks to the breakout popularity of games like Persona 5 in 2016 and Persona 3 Reload, released in March.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
The senior captain spent four years at Northwestern, before his breakout season with the Cavaliers.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
She’s joined by Teyonah Parris, one of the breakout stars of 2021’s WandaVision, and Iman Vellani, who anchored 2022’s Ms. Marvel with a heroic level of infectious enthusiasm.
—The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
His breakout moment came last May with King Charles’s coronation.
—Meryl Kornfield, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
All in all, sake was primed for its breakout moment.
—Shana Clarke, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Saturday evening’s Michelin-Star Showcase featured Oceanside’s breakout Mexican restaurant Valle, helmed by Roberto Alcocer, which is only one of five restaurants in San Diego to capture a constellation.
—Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot-3 forward was the Cardinal’s leading scorer this season — one of two players in the country to average 19 points and 11 rebounds per game — and had a breakout postseason.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
Will Carless, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
The tune, penned by Zendaya and Labrinth, featured prominently in the final episode of the show’s second season as Fike’s character, Elliot, broke out the ol’ acoustic guitar and serenaded Zendaya’s character, Rue, as the pair made amends.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2024
The trio takes over sole possession of the second-most rulers in the Alternative Airplay chart’s 35-year history, breaking out of a tie with Foo Fighters and Linkin Park.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
Employees then asked him to leave and attempted to escort Ricks outside when the fight broke out.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Tramell Tillman — the actor who broke out in popular Apple series Severance — has landed a role in the eighth Mission: Impossible film.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024
Control of information on social media has become increasingly important to governments in the 2020s, especially when war breaks out, from Gaza to Ukraine.
—Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, around 125,000 Jews lived in the North, while another 25,000 lived in the South.
—Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Over 10,000 non-union auto workers have signed cards in support of the UAW in recent months and organizing campaigns have broken out at more than two dozen facilities, the union said in a statement last month.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
Active breakouts can increase proneness to irritation, and fragrances are known irritants.
—Lacey Muinos, Health, 25 Apr. 2024
The condition can also show up as dry skin, swollen skin or acne breakouts that won’t clear up with treatment.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 24 Apr. 2024
The retinol minimizes breakouts, while niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, soothes and protects skin.
—Kate Watson, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024
These single-use pads are enriched in PHAs, plus 77% heartleaf extract and centella asiatica extract to limit sebum production, prevent breakouts, and calm stressed skin.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2024
The company will continue to release breakouts of revenue by region each quarter as well as the F/X.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
Shaheen, a 25-year-old writer with a marketing background, is the new breakout star of the self-help genre.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
In a breakout season, Kuminga is averaging 16.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
He’s torn between homes, between flashbacks and the present, and, naturally, between women — the caustic Ms. Sofia Mori (a very funny Sandra Oh) and the tantalizing distraction of the General’s daughter, Lana (breakout newcomer Vy Le).
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The song was Del Rey’s breakout track and her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting and peaking at No. 91 in January 2012.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024
Atlus is currently enjoying a renaissance thanks to the breakout popularity of games like Persona 5 in 2016 and Persona 3 Reload, released in March.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 24 Apr. 2024
The senior captain spent four years at Northwestern, before his breakout season with the Cavaliers.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
She’s joined by Teyonah Parris, one of the breakout stars of 2021’s WandaVision, and Iman Vellani, who anchored 2022’s Ms. Marvel with a heroic level of infectious enthusiasm.
—The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
His breakout moment came last May with King Charles’s coronation.
—Meryl Kornfield, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
All in all, sake was primed for its breakout moment.
—Shana Clarke, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Saturday evening’s Michelin-Star Showcase featured Oceanside’s breakout Mexican restaurant Valle, helmed by Roberto Alcocer, which is only one of five restaurants in San Diego to capture a constellation.
—Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot-3 forward was the Cardinal’s leading scorer this season — one of two players in the country to average 19 points and 11 rebounds per game — and had a breakout postseason.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
Far-right paints campus protests as terrorism As protests broke out on college campuses across the country, influencers and politicians on the far-right began to portray the protestors as violent, dangerous and intent on taking over the country.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
The tune, penned by Zendaya and Labrinth, featured prominently in the final episode of the show’s second season as Fike’s character, Elliot, broke out the ol’ acoustic guitar and serenaded Zendaya’s character, Rue, as the pair made amends.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2024
The trio takes over sole possession of the second-most rulers in the Alternative Airplay chart’s 35-year history, breaking out of a tie with Foo Fighters and Linkin Park.
—Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
Employees then asked him to leave and attempted to escort Ricks outside when the fight broke out.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
Tramell Tillman — the actor who broke out in popular Apple series Severance — has landed a role in the eighth Mission: Impossible film.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024
Control of information on social media has become increasingly important to governments in the 2020s, especially when war breaks out, from Gaza to Ukraine.
—Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, around 125,000 Jews lived in the North, while another 25,000 lived in the South.
—Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Over 10,000 non-union auto workers have signed cards in support of the UAW in recent months and organizing campaigns have broken out at more than two dozen facilities, the union said in a statement last month.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breakout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near breakout
Cite this Entry
“Breakout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakout. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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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