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
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
Field testing revealed that the bacteria was present in sick sea stars and had also been around during a 2016 outbreak in Alaska.
—
JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
Other employees who were initially terminated last week then brought back include staffers focused on suicide prevention and responses to Ebola and measles outbreaks, according to the National Public Health Coalition.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The transmission detected in a Nassau County resident comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Americans to be on high alert for the virus following outbreaks in Cuba and China this year.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The outbreak was forcing a shortage of eggs as well, leading some grocers to restrict how many dozens of eggs consumers could buy per visit.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
Other employees who were initially terminated last week then brought back include staffers focused on suicide prevention and responses to Ebola and measles outbreaks, according to the National Public Health Coalition.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The transmission detected in a Nassau County resident comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Americans to be on high alert for the virus following outbreaks in Cuba and China this year.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The outbreak was forcing a shortage of eggs as well, leading some grocers to restrict how many dozens of eggs consumers could buy per visit.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outbreak. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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