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
Given the less-than-one-half-inch insect’s track record of devastating oaks since being first detected in San Diego County in 2008, scientists and land stewards are alarmed — and working to contain the outbreak.
—
Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Sills said that the COVID-era lessons around nimble outbreak responses have helped teams react to more recent flare-ups.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2026
In November, the Pan American Health Organization - part of the WHO - determined that Canada had lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades due to its failure to curb a year-long outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease.
—Reuters 20 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Multiple children have died or were hospitalized from measles, and South Carolina continues to face a growing outbreak.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Sills said that the COVID-era lessons around nimble outbreak responses have helped teams react to more recent flare-ups.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2026
In November, the Pan American Health Organization - part of the WHO - determined that Canada had lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades due to its failure to curb a year-long outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease.
—Reuters 20 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Multiple children have died or were hospitalized from measles, and South Carolina continues to face a growing outbreak.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outbreak. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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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