Thesaurus results for BREAKS OUT

breaks out

verb

present tense third-person singular of break out

as in erupts

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 breaks out EconomyBookings, for example, breaks out what a rate covers at checkout, identifies whether a pickup point sits in the terminal or off-site, and states cancellation terms on eligible bookings. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Offense breaks out, Twins rout Athletics Ryan Kreidler created a memory for his friends and family, and the Twins followed suit. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The story tracks a Chinese chef who moves to the Middle East to clear family debts by running a restaurant, only to see the venue become a community refuge when armed conflict breaks out across the region. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 The exact split is not something the university breaks out in its Common Data Set, so the figure comes from the admissions office rather than an audited count. — Jamie Beaton, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Then, in the bottom of the inning, Kennedy throws a pitch near Greinke’s head, and pandemonium breaks out, with both benches and bullpens emptying again, and players and even coaches going at each other. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 Occasionally, an argument breaks out about who ate the last slice of baloney in the refrigerator. — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026 In other words, there could still be meaningful upside runway if the stock eventually breaks out and follows a path similar to prior advances. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026 When war breaks out, many insurers trigger what are known as standard war-risk cancellation clauses, according to Jungman at Vortexa. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks out

Verb

Gunfire erupts following victory celebration Prosecutors have alleged that an argument between two groups escalated into gunfire in the crowded celebration.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Social media erupts over cancellation, pleads to Mamdani Since the cancellation was announced, social media was inundated with posts in support of the show, with some even reaching out to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to intervene and save it.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of erupts

Verb

In Copperhead, when an undercover drug deal explodes into violence, a veteran detective is forced to team with a young federal agent to unravel the conspiracy within their elite task force.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026
That explodes into action in one startlingly seedy scene involving a rape in full view of revelers at a hotel party.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026