Thesaurus results for BROKE OUT

broke out

verb

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

Relevance

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 On Monday, as gunfire broke out between armed groups near Toussaint Louverture International Airport, a stray bullet struck a glass door of an administrative building, leading domestic carrier Sunrise Airways to cancel flights for the day. —

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 Hersheypark has beefed up security measures after a large fight broke out during the park's opening weekend and ended with several arrests. —

Alexandra Simon, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 Higgins originally broke out of Love Island UK in 2019 but rose to greater celebrity last year as one of the stars of Peacock‘s The Traitors US. —

Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026 George Pickens broke out in 2025 after being traded to Dallas from the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has prompted talks of quite the hefty contract. —

Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026 The war in Sudan broke out on April 15, 2023, when a power struggle between the military and RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital of Khartoum and elsewhere in the sprawling country. —

ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 With nine punchouts, four hits and zero walks over seven innings, the lefty stifled an offense that broke out for 11 runs in Monday’s series-opener but has otherwise been a bit quiet lately. —

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026 The opening act had started playing—a local band that never broke out, Sacagawea—but Russ and Cherry just huddled a little closer and kept talking. —

Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026 Admitting not knowing much about Iran, Yan said her curiosity has only grown stronger since the war broke out. —

Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke out

Verb

Carter erupted for a career-high 29 points with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, leading the Kings to a 124-118 victory over the Golden State Warriors in their home finale Friday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Etienne erupted for 15 points and four 3-pointers in the opening quarter Friday night at Fiserv Forum, his most points in any quarter or half, and finished with a career-high 23 points and six 3-pointers.

— C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026