outbreak

noun

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out·break | \ ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk

Definition of outbreak

1a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More About outbreak

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 North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has ordered a nationwide lockdown after acknowledging a COVID-19 outbreak in the country for the first time. — Lorraine Taylor, Fox News, 12 May 2022 The Cleveland Guardians are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that has sidelined manager Terry Francona and several of the team’s coaches, leading to the postponement of Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. — BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2022 However, China’s strict lockdowns to contain a Covid-19 outbreak are weighing on manufacturing and transportation. — Gwynn Guilford, WSJ, 11 May 2022 The Cleveland Guardians are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that has sidelined manager Terry Francona and several of the team’s coaches, leading to the postponement of Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. — San Francisco Chronicle, 11 May 2022 Some passengers who were on board the Carnival Spirit alleged that crew members mishandled the Covid-19 outbreak on the ship. — CNN, 7 May 2022 May Day holiday, but stringent new controls to curb Beijing’s biggest COVID-19 outbreak meant relatively few people came to admire it. — Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2022 As a result, any large-scale COVID-19 outbreak in the region can significantly strain production. — Chris Smith, BGR, 5 May 2022 Some of the passengers on a Carnival cruise from Miami to Seattle are in quarantine after a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the ship. — CBS News, 5 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outbreak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.