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
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Recent Examples of breaking out
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
Sold by MoreThan Films, a buzz title at September Venice Days, now breaking out abroad.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Microsoft first started breaking out Azure revenue growth last quarter.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 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
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
Sold by MoreThan Films, a buzz title at September Venice Days, now breaking out abroad.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Microsoft first started breaking out Azure revenue growth last quarter.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 31 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking out
Verb
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Damas shattered the school scoring record, erupting for an eye-popping 50 points while adding 18 rebounds to complete a tremendous double-double as Mystic Valley pulled away for a 91-60 victory over Notre Dame (Tyngsboro) in a nonleague tilt.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
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The suspect exited the friend's vehicle, entered the victim's SUV, with gunfire erupting soon after.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The creative industries there were exploding.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
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Ratner, of course, earned Hollywood over $2 billion with his blockbusters about gunfire and exploding cars.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20out. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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