broke out

Definition of broke outnext
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 However, several other disturbances broke out as hundreds of people on the beach attempted to leave simultaneously, officials noted. Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2026 The blaze is one of several that recently broke out in Southern California, including the largest fire ever recorded on Santa Rosa Island and two brush fires that broke out in Riverside County on Tuesday. Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 More than a dozen elderly residents at a nursing home in Hayward were evacuated after a fire broke out Tuesday afternoon. Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 May 2026 Freeman broke out of a 4-for-29 slump with his first multihomer game of the season for the Dodgers, who have won six of seven. ABC News, 20 May 2026 Officers went to render medical aid to the victim, and several other fights broke out, police said. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 After taking a bite of the sandwich his wife left for him, Eric Richins broke out in hives, injected himself with his son’s EpiPen, drank a bottle of Benadryl and passed out, prosecutors said. Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026 But since the war with Iran broke out, Serrato's need to hear his voice was also driven by worry. Juliana Kim, NPR, 13 May 2026 Hundreds of vessels and thousands of mariners are still stranded in and around the strait, where traffic had flowed freely for decades before the Iran war broke out. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke out
Verb
  • Bulgaria won 312 votes from the audience as the crowd erupted in cheers and confetti.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 16 May 2026
  • But when the Gaga music started playing, the crowd erupted with the kind of hysteria once reserved for Beatlemania.
    Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Though the use of AI has exploded since ChatGPT was released in 2022, the rise in productivity over the past five years likely cannot be fully attributed to AI.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 15 May 2026
  • The fire then spread to a nearby dust silo, which exploded.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 15 May 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 22 May. 2026.

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