break out

British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to begin or arise suddenly

   panic broke out

2. (intr, adverb) to make an escape, esp from prison or confinement

3. (of the skin) to erupt (in a rash, pimples, etc)

4. (tr, adverb) to launch or introduce (a new product)

5. (tr, adverb) to open and start using

   break out the champagne

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noun

1. an escape, esp from prison or confinement

2. 1. a great success, esp following relatively disappointing performance

   2. ( as modifier )

      a breakout year

break out Idioms  

1. Develop suddenly and forcefully. For example, A fire broke out last night , or He broke out in a sweat . [ a.d. 1000]

2. Be affected with a skin eruption, such as a rash or boils, as in A teenager's face often breaks out in pimples . [c. 1300]

3. Prepare something for consumption, action, or use, as in Let's break out the champagne , or It's such a fine day—let's break out the fishing rods . [Early 1800s]

4. break out of . Force out by breaking; also, escape from confinement. For example, The hurricane broke the glass out of all the windows , or He broke out of prison but was soon apprehended . [Early 1600s]

5. Isolate a portion of a body of data, as in Please break out the sales figures from the quarterly report . [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

When he challenged her, a row broke out, he says.

From BBC

Before the conflict broke out, jet fuel cost about $2.50 a gallon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Parts of the park in the Highlands and Moray were affected by fires that broke out in late June and early July last year.

From BBC

The dollar’s role as a safe haven triggered the rally after the Iran conflict broke out on Feb. 28.

From Barron's

The dollar’s role as a safe haven triggered the rally after the Iran conflict broke out on Feb. 28.

From Barron's

Related Words

• appear
• arise
• begin
• commence
• erupt
• explode
• occur
• set in
• start