Synonyms of break out

break out 1 of 2

verb

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

• erupt
• burst (forth)
• explode
• flare (up)
• blaze (up)
• flame
• swell
• mount
• rocket
• skyrocket
• touch off
• proliferate
• multiply
• wax
• detonate
• mushroom
• snowball
• blow up
• balloon
• burgeon

breakout

2 of 2

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌau̇t 

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

• escape
• flight
• break
• rout
• getaway
• bunk
• rescue
• slip
• liberation
• lam
• redemption
• release
• salvation
• deliverance
• jailbreak
• close call
• close shave
• near miss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confinement
• imprisonment
• incarceration
• captivity
• retention
• holding
• custody
• risk
• detention
• trouble
• hold
• internment
• hazard
• jeopardy
• immurement
• peril
• imperilment
• endangerment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of break out

Verb

When the Los Angeles County wildfires broke out last year, the Palisades Village remained largely unscathed after Caruso hired private firefighters to protect it. — Tom Wait, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Such attention and admiration will only elevate to new, unseen levels following a night when Madjo broke out into the wider footballing public. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

While hot at the plate over the last few days, Grisham hasn’t been able to replicate his breakout production from a season ago and has continued to regress in center field. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Frank Cappelleri, founder of CappThesis and a CNBC contributor, wrote Wednesday that a breakout in the stock is brewing. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026