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
Five measles cases could reach $324,480, while an outbreak of 50 might cost $1 million, the Johns Hopkins report estimated.
—
Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
If not, there could be an outbreak of fighting, such as civil war, that could be long and devastating to Iran.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
But the outbreak of COVID in 2020 prompted even greater injections, reaching $7 trillion in June 2020 and $9 trillion in mid-2022.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
The Iranian dissident and writer Mehdi Mahmoudian on the outbreak of war in Iran, his experience inside the country’s prison system, and his fears for the future.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
If not, there could be an outbreak of fighting, such as civil war, that could be long and devastating to Iran.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
But the outbreak of COVID in 2020 prompted even greater injections, reaching $7 trillion in June 2020 and $9 trillion in mid-2022.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
The Iranian dissident and writer Mehdi Mahmoudian on the outbreak of war in Iran, his experience inside the country’s prison system, and his fears for the future.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 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 8 Mar. 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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