as in to erupt
to develop suddenly and violently
in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
the captives had been planning to stage a breakout at the next change in shift for the guards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break out
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
Spring brings us all kinds of opportunities to break out the sips, from porch sitting (paired with sweet tea) to garden parties (paired with bright party punch).
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
The Bengals are betting on Myles Murphy continuing the second-half breakout in 2025 and are looking to provide a runway for Shemar Stewart to develop in Year 2.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
Verb
Firefighters battled a massive five-alarm fire Friday evening that broke out inside a Queens lumberyard, the FDNY said.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
Spring brings us all kinds of opportunities to break out the sips, from porch sitting (paired with sweet tea) to garden parties (paired with bright party punch).
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
If momentum returns to the stock in the near term, another bullish breakout and upside extension could follow.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
The Bengals are betting on Myles Murphy continuing the second-half breakout in 2025 and are looking to provide a runway for Shemar Stewart to develop in Year 2.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
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That impact and his trajectory launched his dragster up into the air, erupting in a fireball, breaking into pieces and getting badly tangled in the catch fencing.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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What follows is a crescendo of bloody madness, including a gruesome toenail cutting scene that shouldn’t be viewed while eating, a grandma being eaten alive by a pack of coyotes and a truly bonkers wake that erupts into laugh-out-loud violence thanks to a pair of dentures.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This escape, which borders Canada, spans over 218,000 acres with lakes, boreal forests, and trickling streams.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
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Increase that field too much, and the electrons escape.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Spirit Airlines operates more than 500 daily flights to more than 60 destinations, including at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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The homeowner, Thania Magana, said flight data showed a plane passing over her neighborhood at the time, according to Hahn.—
Daniel S. Levine,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When a Lake Dallas home exploded last month, critically injuring a woman inside, investigators said natural gas from a leaking pipe fueled the blast.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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That struggle exploded into the Investiture Controversy, one of the most consequential conflicts of the Middle Ages, and lay crucial groundwork for the Magna Carta, the first document to hold royalty subject to the law.—
Joëlle Rollo-Koster,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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