as in erupts
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 breaks out
Body camera video shows Graham running from the deputy as a struggle breaks out.
—
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
At times, yes, when a football match breaks out between all of those stoppages.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS SENATE SHOWDOWN – Yelling match breaks out in Senate hearing with former Biden official over ‘two spirit’ safe spaces.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
At times, yes, when a football match breaks out between all of those stoppages.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … POLITICS SENATE SHOWDOWN – Yelling match breaks out in Senate hearing with former Biden official over ‘two spirit’ safe spaces.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.
—Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks out
Verb
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In Empire City, when a hostage crisis erupts inside New York’s landmark Clybourn Building, former Navy SEAL turned firefighter Rhett (Butler), his squad, and his NYPD wife Dani (Hayley Atwell) must fight and navigate their way through the building to rescue the captives.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
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The boardwalk surrounding Echinus contains several benches and platforms for viewing, which has confused visitors in the past because the geyser erupts so infrequently, according to the USGS.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Birmingham reunites with Dutton in Marshals and is injured in the first episode when a bomb explodes during a protest at the Broken Rock reservation.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Mar. 2026
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An incoming projectile explodes over the water in the bay of Haifa off of the northern Israeli coastal city on February 28, 2026.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20out. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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