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 Justus had been campaigning near the election offices when the argument broke out. — Nathan Pilling july 22, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026 Oil prices have already surged $20 a barrel this month after war broke out again in the Middle East. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 This is what happened to BTO (and many other CEFs) when the Iran conflict broke out. — Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 So when another round of violence broke out in May, 2021, Biden chose to publicly express only support for Israel’s response. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 The fire, which broke out on Sunday night, killed at least 32 people and left more than 70 injured, 24 of whom are still in critical condition, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. — ABC News, 15 July 2026 In October 2023, when Hamas broke out of Gaza and murdered hundreds of Israelis, most of them civilians, Netanyahu looked done for. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 14 July 2026 Another takeover involving more than 300 teens happened on Saturday at the boardwalk in University City, where multiple fights broke out. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026 The fire broke out June 17 and raged for eight days, sending a massive amount of smoke into the atmosphere and prompting warnings for nearby residents to stay inside. — City News Service, Daily News, 8 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke out

Verb

The Sicilian volcano has erupted several times a year, and glassy peaks of over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) have fascinated scientists for decades.

— Refractor, Refractor, 27 July 2026
The biggest such controversy erupted in April when the president shared a post depicting himself as Jesus Christ, amid a very public feud with Pope Leo XIV.

— Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of erupted

Verb

For example, demand for electric vehicles in the country exploded over the course of the war, and the number of EVs on the road surged by a third.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Jason Kilar, the corporate overlord of Warners at the time, exploded the company’s goodwill with talent and agents in every corner of the business by forcing the studio’s titles to stream day and date.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 July 2026