break·out
ˈbrāk-ˌau̇t 
plural breakouts
1
: a violent or forceful break from a restraining condition or situation: such as
a
: a military attack to break from encirclement
b
: an escape from prison or jail
2
a
: an eruption or inflammation of the skin
Because stress can throw your hormones out of balance, it can make normal sebaceous glands produce oil at an increased rate, causing breakouts.—
Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
b
: an outbreak of disease
a measles breakout
3
: a success or accomplishment especially in comparison to previous efforts
His breakout in 2006 felt like one of those too-good-to-be-true narratives …—S. L. Price
S. L. Price4
: breakout session
They met in breakouts to exchange beat information and story ideas on the crucial coverage areas …—Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher5
ice hockey
: a play that moves the puck out of the defensive zone
… several drills during practice stressed short, crisp passing on the breakouts.—David J. Neal
David J. Neal1
: being or relating to a sudden or overwhelming success especially in comparison to previous efforts
a breakout book
2
: being, relating to, or used in a breakout session
a breakout discussion
breakout activities
… some students have thrived in the small groups afforded by virtual breakout rooms.—Jal Mehta
Jal MehtaIn breakout groups, they debated which proposals would have the most impact, but also the most support.—Hannan Adely
Hannan Adely
broke out; broken out; breaking out; breaks out
1
: to develop or emerge with suddenness or force
fire broke out
a riot broke out
2
a
: to become covered
break out in a sweat
b
: to become affected with an eruption or inflammation of the skin
break out in hives
his face broke out with acne
3
: to make a break from a restraining condition or situation
broke out of a slump
broke out of jail
1
a
: to make ready for action or use
break out the tents and make camp
b
: to produce for consumption
break out a bottle of champagne
2
: to display flying and unfurled
3
: to separate from a mass of data
break out newsstand sales
Synonyms
Examples of breakout in a Sentence
Noun
the captives had been planning to stage a breakout at the next change in shift for the guards
Adjective
The company had a breakout year last year, tripling its profits from the previous year.
Verb
in the wake of news reports of deaths from the flu, panic broke out, and there was a mad rush for flu shots
Recent Examples on the WebDaniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Both country music icons and breakout artists will be taking to the stage at Austin's Moody Center.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Photo: Carole Bethuel WATCH How Millie Bobby Brown Gets Ready for Date Night
Aside from being a once-in-a-generation Gallic beauty with a name full of creamy vowels, Seydoux has become one of the most thrilling stars of the past decade, since her breakout in 2013’s Blue Is the Warmest Color.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Research has found that CBD may prevent the activation of inflammatory cytokines, which cause breakouts.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Cue breakouts and hyperpigmentation, among other gems.
—Krissy Brady, SELF, 2 Apr. 2024
Prime Video’s breakout feel-good girlfriend dramedy, Harlem, has been renewed for a third season at the streaming platform.
—Rivea Ruff, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
In addition to breakout performances from stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie and Barbie Ferreira, Euphoria is also known for its memorable beauty and fashion moments.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
The 21-year-old right-hander only made a handful of appearances in spring training, but displayed his triple-digits fastball and capped first big-league camp by striking out Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday in the spring breakout exhibition.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot-3 forward was the Cardinal’s leading scorer this season — one of two players in the country to average 19 points and 11 rebounds per game — and had a breakout postseason.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
Soul Plane Another guilty pleasure classic, this raunchy absurdist comedy finds Kevin Hart in his breakout role as Nashawn Wade, a disgruntled passenger whose dog passes during a particularly awful flight experience.
—Rivea Ruff, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
His greatest triumph came with 2012's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which featured a starry Broadway cast that included Weaver, Hyde Pierce, and Billy Magnussen in his breakout role.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2024
After leaving the remote Virginia set, the actor went on to have a long career since the movie’s breakout success.
—EW.com, 30 Mar. 2024
Key developments regarding Xabi Alonso's future places the legendary midfielder and now impressive breakout head coach closer to succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
White starred with Zac Efron in last year’s A24 wrestling-centric feature The Iron Claw after his breakout role as Carmy on FX series The Bear.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
That was followed by breakout rooms on workshopping a pitch, managing up, specialty reporting and becoming an editor.
—Vianna Davila, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2024
Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Garland broke out with a page-turning novel, The Beach, and parlayed that success into a career as a screenwriter and filmmaker (writing 28 Days Later and directing Ex Machina, Annihilation, and TV’s Devs).
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Officers had searched for 16-year-old and 17-year-old boys since gunfire broke out March 21 behind Sacramento State student housing, Wexler Apartments, at Sacramento Regional Transit’s University-65th Street light rail station.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
No Doubt's reunion Hey baby, hey baby, hey — break out your '90s plaid pants, spiky space buns, and ska dance moves at the main stage Saturday night.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The pair fall madly in love before hatching a plan to break out of the joint.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Greece is investing €2.1 billion ($2.27 billion) to protect the nation from natural disasters caused by climate change as wildfires are already breaking out ahead of fire season, which normally starts in May.
—Paul Tugwell, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024
On Christmas Eve of 1734, a fire broke out at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid, a Spanish palace known for its extravagant architecture and bountiful art collection.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
At least 12 people were injured in the attack, which caused a fire to break out at the primary refining unit, according to Russian officials.
—Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
He’s torn between homes, between flashbacks and the present, and, naturally, between women — the caustic Ms. Sofia Mori (a very funny Sandra Oh) and the tantalizing distraction of the General’s daughter, Lana (breakout newcomer Vy Le).
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
Both country music icons and breakout artists will be taking to the stage at Austin's Moody Center.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Photo: Carole Bethuel WATCH How Millie Bobby Brown Gets Ready for Date Night
Aside from being a once-in-a-generation Gallic beauty with a name full of creamy vowels, Seydoux has become one of the most thrilling stars of the past decade, since her breakout in 2013’s Blue Is the Warmest Color.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Research has found that CBD may prevent the activation of inflammatory cytokines, which cause breakouts.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Cue breakouts and hyperpigmentation, among other gems.
—Krissy Brady, SELF, 2 Apr. 2024
Prime Video’s breakout feel-good girlfriend dramedy, Harlem, has been renewed for a third season at the streaming platform.
—Rivea Ruff, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
In addition to breakout performances from stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie and Barbie Ferreira, Euphoria is also known for its memorable beauty and fashion moments.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
The 21-year-old right-hander only made a handful of appearances in spring training, but displayed his triple-digits fastball and capped first big-league camp by striking out Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday in the spring breakout exhibition.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Saturday evening’s Michelin-Star Showcase featured Oceanside’s breakout Mexican restaurant Valle, helmed by Roberto Alcocer, which is only one of five restaurants in San Diego to capture a constellation.
—Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
The 6-foot-3 forward was the Cardinal’s leading scorer this season — one of two players in the country to average 19 points and 11 rebounds per game — and had a breakout postseason.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024
Soul Plane Another guilty pleasure classic, this raunchy absurdist comedy finds Kevin Hart in his breakout role as Nashawn Wade, a disgruntled passenger whose dog passes during a particularly awful flight experience.
—Rivea Ruff, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
His greatest triumph came with 2012's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which featured a starry Broadway cast that included Weaver, Hyde Pierce, and Billy Magnussen in his breakout role.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2024
After leaving the remote Virginia set, the actor went on to have a long career since the movie’s breakout success.
—EW.com, 30 Mar. 2024
Key developments regarding Xabi Alonso's future places the legendary midfielder and now impressive breakout head coach closer to succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
White starred with Zac Efron in last year’s A24 wrestling-centric feature The Iron Claw after his breakout role as Carmy on FX series The Bear.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
That was followed by breakout rooms on workshopping a pitch, managing up, specialty reporting and becoming an editor.
—Vianna Davila, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
After their bats broke out in a big way to pick up an 11-2 win Saturday, they were largely flummoxed by a Tampa Bay tag team of righty Shawn Armstrong, who covered the first two innings, and lefty Tyler Alexander, who took down the ensuing six frames.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Garland broke out with a page-turning novel, The Beach, and parlayed that success into a career as a screenwriter and filmmaker (writing 28 Days Later and directing Ex Machina, Annihilation, and TV’s Devs).
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
Officers had searched for 16-year-old and 17-year-old boys since gunfire broke out March 21 behind Sacramento State student housing, Wexler Apartments, at Sacramento Regional Transit’s University-65th Street light rail station.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
No Doubt's reunion Hey baby, hey baby, hey — break out your '90s plaid pants, spiky space buns, and ska dance moves at the main stage Saturday night.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The pair fall madly in love before hatching a plan to break out of the joint.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Greece is investing €2.1 billion ($2.27 billion) to protect the nation from natural disasters caused by climate change as wildfires are already breaking out ahead of fire season, which normally starts in May.
—Paul Tugwell, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024
On Christmas Eve of 1734, a fire broke out at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid, a Spanish palace known for its extravagant architecture and bountiful art collection.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
At least 12 people were injured in the attack, which caused a fire to break out at the primary refining unit, according to Russian officials.
—Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breakout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near breakout
Cite this Entry
“Breakout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakout. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
breakout
1 of 2 noun
break·out
ˈbrā-ˌkau̇t
: an eruption or inflammation of the skin
This is especially true for those who have acne and are desperate to stop breakouts without taking prescription antibiotics …—Stacie Stukin, The Los Angeles Times
Stacie Stukin, The Los Angeles TimesBecause stress can throw your hormones out of balance, it can make normal sebaceous glands produce oil at an increased rate, causing breakouts.—Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaarbreak out
2 of 2 intransitive verb1
: to be affected with a skin eruption and especially one indicative of the presence of a particular disease
breaking out with measles
2
of a disease
: to manifest itself by skin eruptions
3
: to become covered with
break out in a sweat
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