plural breakouts
: an escape from a prison, jail, etc.
—used especially to describe an escape by a group of prisoners
Police report that three people were killed during an attempted breakout (from the prison).
a prison breakout
always used before a noun
US
: having, causing, or marked by sudden and great success that comes usually after a time without much success
The company had a breakout year last year, tripling its profits from the previous year.
an actor's breakout role [=the role that makes an actor famous and successful]
Cite this Entry
“Breakout.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/breakout. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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