as in erupting
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
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of breaking out
Raleigh snapped the longest hitless streak in the major leagues during the team’s 10-2 win over the Astors on Tuesday, breaking out of an 0-38 slump with a pair of singles.
—
Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Rookies were instructed through stretches and warmups before breaking out into positional drills during the media-viewing portion of rookie minicamp.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Height turned 25 two weeks ago after playing six seasons at four schools, finally breaking out with the Red Raiders in 2025.
—Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
According to Rubin, 37, the Angels & Airwaves musician is allegedly known for breaking out alien autopsy images.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Perry sat behind upperclassmen for two seasons, before breaking out as a junior and leading the Wolverines to two state championships.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Survival of the mid-major programs depends on breaking out and forming their own conglomeration.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
But just then, a battle was breaking out on a podium just a few yards away.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Police said the gathering soon turned contentious, with multiple fights breaking out, and a judge recently sentenced one of the men involved.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Rookies were instructed through stretches and warmups before breaking out into positional drills during the media-viewing portion of rookie minicamp.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Height turned 25 two weeks ago after playing six seasons at four schools, finally breaking out with the Red Raiders in 2025.
—Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
According to Rubin, 37, the Angels & Airwaves musician is allegedly known for breaking out alien autopsy images.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Perry sat behind upperclassmen for two seasons, before breaking out as a junior and leading the Wolverines to two state championships.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Survival of the mid-major programs depends on breaking out and forming their own conglomeration.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
But just then, a battle was breaking out on a podium just a few yards away.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Police said the gathering soon turned contentious, with multiple fights breaking out, and a judge recently sentenced one of the men involved.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking out
Verb
-
But things went sideways quickly, with the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 36 erupting in a fireball.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2026
-
Footage of the incident shows the rocket erupting into a massive fireball, sending towering flames and thick smoke into the night sky.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, the worldwide launch rate has risen to roughly 125 launches annually, with the number exploding in 2018.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
-
In 2025, a capacity crowd was exploding for her, the biggest star in the sport, triumphing on one of its biggest stages once again.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20out. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
