BREAKOUT Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

break out 1 of 2

verb

Definition of break out

as in to erupt

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

breakout

2 of 2

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌau̇t

as in escape

the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement the captives had been planning to stage a breakout at the next change in shift for the guards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 break out

Verb

The Norte fire in south Orange County broke out amid strong Santa Ana winds on Friday morning, triggering mandatory evacuations in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Civil war broke out in 2014 after the Houthis seized Sanaa, forcing the government to flee to the southern city of Aden. — Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

The fastest breakout was 27 seconds, and one intrusion reached full data exfiltration in four minutes. — Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The breakout star of the summer box office kicked her Oscar campaign into high gear this week with a media blitz, including a W magazine cover and a live recording of THR’s awards podcast. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for break out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for break out

Verb

Still, when the measles outbreak erupted, Bangladesh responded swiftly and initially seemed to be winning the battle.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Multiple people were killed and dozens more were injured when an explosion erupted at a Canadian military base, according to authorities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of erupt

Noun

These circumstances, too, create a perception of the world as unpredictable and may lead people to seek escape via alcohol or other drugs.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
There’s relief in his escape but the path has left him feeling scorned, too.

— Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of escape

Verb

Nearly 2,400 people were arrested in France on Saturday after long-simmering protests exploded into some of the country’s most disruptive unrest in years.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026
When Louise would remember the show decades later, the audience was always so electric that the room exploded into stamping feet and pounding fists.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of explode

Noun

Thursday’s demonstration did not show long-range flight capabilities.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
The co-pilot is alleged to have stabbed the plane’s captain and taken over the flight controls with the intention of crashing it into Ben-Gurion airport.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of flight

Browse Nearby Words

break off (with)

break out

breakout

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Break out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of break out

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes