broke out

past tense of break out
as in erupted
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

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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 broke out Fire crews are on the scene after a fire broke out in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus Tuesday morning. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 In the lobby of the building, a fist fight broke out between two women, WMC reported. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 Before the plague broke out in 1592, business was booming for London’s theaters. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 In July, a horde of OpenAI agents broke out of their sandboxes and worked together to launch a cyberattack on the AI company Hugging Face. — Harry Booth, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 Investigators allege the violence began after two cars entered a parking lot and a fight involving about 10 people broke out. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Exactly a week earlier, a migrant boat with 62 people overturned about 100 miles to the southeast off Mona Island after a fight broke out on the vessel. — David Goodhue october 6, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 With front lines frozen, infighting among pro-government factions — which had never been the happiest of allies — broke out into open war, causing a still-unresolved rift between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Two YouTube creators-turned-directors broke out in a big way. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke out
Verb
  • When Vučić conceded defeat, shortly after the polls closed, the crowds on the streets erupted in celebration.
    — Guy De Launey, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Internal disputes have erupted over how best to expand the business and promote content on the platform to boost audience engagement, according to former Netflix employees and industry insiders who spoke to The Times.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Their use has exploded in the last three years, however, despite a sometimes-hefty price tag without insurance coverage — around $1,000 a month on the higher end.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The platform has exploded in recent years on a promise to improve patients’ access to in-network therapists.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20out. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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