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

• burst
• flare
• flare-up
• flash
• flicker
• flurry
• flutter
• outburst
• spurt

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

The multi-day tornado outbreak continued Saturday, with powerful storms expected from Texas to the Great Lakes. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2024

By the end of that outbreak, 14 patients lost their vision and four died. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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