outbreak

noun

out·​break ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk How to pronounce outbreak (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of outbreak was in 1562

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outbreak. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

outbreak

noun
out·​break ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk How to pronounce outbreak (audio)
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 How to pronounce outbreak (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on outbreak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!