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 broken out
Heineman, who was an afterthought for many in the Dobson trade, has broken out as a complementary top-six contributor.
—
Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
But soon enough, the tiny fire truck has lost its wheels and a fight has broken out over whose Care Bears keychain is cooler, though neither of my children has ever owned a key.
—Mandy Len Catron, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Violent protests have broken out in the Mexican state of Michoacán over the murder of an outspoken anti-crime mayor, who was killed over the weekend while taking part in a Day of the Dead celebration.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
By the time the wage board announced that the lowest-grade workers would receive 12,500 Bangladeshi taka ($102) per month, full-fledged riots had broken out, drawing police gunfire that killed three workers and resulting in a factory blaze that caused the death of a fourth.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
The ratio has also broken out above the 40-week moving average — an additional positive catalyst in relative terms.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.
—Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
No Spanish filmmaker has broken out to such quick auteurist stardom in the last five years than Alauda Ruiz de Azúa.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Protests have also broken out due to ICE checkpoints popping up around the city and the police increasing curfew zones for minors.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
But soon enough, the tiny fire truck has lost its wheels and a fight has broken out over whose Care Bears keychain is cooler, though neither of my children has ever owned a key.
—Mandy Len Catron, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Violent protests have broken out in the Mexican state of Michoacán over the murder of an outspoken anti-crime mayor, who was killed over the weekend while taking part in a Day of the Dead celebration.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
By the time the wage board announced that the lowest-grade workers would receive 12,500 Bangladeshi taka ($102) per month, full-fledged riots had broken out, drawing police gunfire that killed three workers and resulting in a factory blaze that caused the death of a fourth.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
The ratio has also broken out above the 40-week moving average — an additional positive catalyst in relative terms.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.
—Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
No Spanish filmmaker has broken out to such quick auteurist stardom in the last five years than Alauda Ruiz de Azúa.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Protests have also broken out due to ICE checkpoints popping up around the city and the police increasing curfew zones for minors.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broken out
Verb
-
When Posa slammed Washington quarterback Demond Williams to the ground for a game-clincher on fourth-and-6, some 70,000 fans erupted as if thawed from a long freeze.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Footage of the crash showed a towering wave of smoke and flames billowing skyward near the airport after the low-flying plane struggled to climb and then erupted into an enormous fireball on impact.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Green Wave exploded on offense to take a 35-17 lead over the Tigers at halftime.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled its second Focus program for the 55th edition, turning the spotlight on Japan’s V-Cinema — the direct-to-video movement that exploded in the late 1980s and profoundly shaped the country’s contemporary film culture.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broken out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broken%20out. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share