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
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025
The chain of events that led to the conviction of former Arkansas police chief Grant Hardin, who recently broke out of prison, were documented in a made for television special.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Authorities allege Williams played a key role in the breakout by turning off the water to the toilet near where the inmates escaped.
—Matt Rehbein, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break out
Verb
The source alleges that some production has continued since the strike broke out with a skeleton crew as the project seeks replacement workers to fill out what was once a roughly 35- to 40-person crew, depending on the day.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025
The chain of events that led to the conviction of former Arkansas police chief Grant Hardin, who recently broke out of prison, were documented in a made for television special.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Noun
With the Pacers giving at least 10 players significant minutes in Games 1-3, will Game 4 mark another breakout for one of Indiana's reserves?
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Authorities allege Williams played a key role in the breakout by turning off the water to the toilet near where the inmates escaped.
—Matt Rehbein, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for break out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out
Verb
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Violent riots erupted across the U.K. after the attack, in which mosques and migrant accommodation were largely targeted.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
27 May 2025
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The volcano is also located in the national park and last erupted in 2022.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Authorities said the woman knew of Massey's escape plans in advance, communicated with him after his escape, and misled authorities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
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From there, the group flooded inside the jail cell, then separated the toilet from the wall and made their escape through the resulting hole.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Things quickly turned ugly as Martha’s jealousy of Ida exploded.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
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Sudan plunged into civil war on April 15, 2023, when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open warfare in the capital Khartoum and other parts of the country.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Noun
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An All Nippon Airways flight traveling from Tokyo to Houston was diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after a passenger reportedly tried to open the plane's exit doors mid-flight, authorities said.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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The closest airport with flights arriving from the U.S. is Venice Marco Polo Airport, about a two-hour drive from Trieste.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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