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
Microsoft first started breaking out Azure revenue growth last quarter.
—
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Sold by MoreThan Films, a buzz title at September Venice Days, now breaking out abroad.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Raised in New York, Donnelly immersed herself in musical theater from a young age before breaking out on screen as cheerleader Addison Wells in Disney’s Zombies franchise.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
In Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, where celebrations have been breaking out after the news, Kahn spoke to Dani Miran, the father of Omri, a hostage being held in Gaza.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
There is, to United’s dismay, a definite trend of players breaking out of Old Trafford and finding a new lease of life.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Cuban officials on Friday said that Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper, has died in Havana decades after breaking out of prison and escaping to the communist island.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The Cavaliers are breaking out navy blue throwbacks.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Without breaking out of the Vulcan mode, Oswalt nicely conveys the character’s unlikely charisma.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Sold by MoreThan Films, a buzz title at September Venice Days, now breaking out abroad.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Raised in New York, Donnelly immersed herself in musical theater from a young age before breaking out on screen as cheerleader Addison Wells in Disney’s Zombies franchise.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
In Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, where celebrations have been breaking out after the news, Kahn spoke to Dani Miran, the father of Omri, a hostage being held in Gaza.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
There is, to United’s dismay, a definite trend of players breaking out of Old Trafford and finding a new lease of life.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Cuban officials on Friday said that Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper, has died in Havana decades after breaking out of prison and escaping to the communist island.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The Cavaliers are breaking out navy blue throwbacks.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Without breaking out of the Vulcan mode, Oswalt nicely conveys the character’s unlikely charisma.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking out
Verb
-
As commentators announced the single-game sacks record to television viewers, Garrett was shown erupting on the sidelines.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
There, the Cougars celebrated by erupting into song.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Many of them are desperately struggling to protect their homes – for some, their only source of wealth – in the face of exploding rents and threats of eviction.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breaking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20out. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share