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 Exactly 50 years earlier, in October of 1973, the Yom Kippur War broke out when Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack on Israel. Noa Tishby, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025 Midway through recording, a debate broke out as the team tried to sort out the proper tone for one of Russell’s lines. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 For Shackleton, who was probably eager to embark to Antarctica before war broke out, the chance to buy Polaris was too good to pass up. Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025 Sanchez allegedly climbed into the truck and kept the driver from calling for help before a fight broke out, according to court records. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025 Authorities said chaos broke out as bullets struck people on the deck as patrons scrambled to safety. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025 One neighbor who spoke with the local outlet recalled attempting to help get victims out of the house after the fire broke out. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025 In addition to arresting musicians, Russian authorities have designated many of them as foreign agents, including Noize MC, who left Russia soon after the war broke out. Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025 Trade Timing & Outlook FTNT recently broke out above its $80 resistance level, with the breakout supported by strong relative performance versus the S & P 500. Tony Zhang, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke out
Verb
  • Meanwhile protests have erupted across Europe calling for an end to the war.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sharma Oli, resigned from his position after the anti-corruption protests erupted across the country, leaving at least 72 people dead and hundreds wounded, most of them in the capital of Kathmandu.
    Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The 44,655 fans, Toronto’s highest attendance of the year, exploded over and over.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The 2024 sixth-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State — yes, that is a real school that plays football — exploded in the first half for five receptions for 104 yards to help set up multiple Cowboys scores.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Broke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20out. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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