breakout

[ breyk-out ]

/ ˈbreɪkˌaʊt /

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See synonyms for breakout on Thesaurus.com

noun

an escape, often with the use of force, as from a prison or mental institution.

an appearance or manifestation, as of a disease, that is sudden and often widespread; outbreak.

an itemization; breakdown: a hotel bill with a breakout of each service offered.

an instance of surpassing any previous achievement: a breakout in gold prices.

the act or process of removing and disassembling equipment that has been used in drilling a well.

adjective

of or constituting a sudden increase, advance, or unexpected success: The director has finally scored with a breakout movie.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of breakout

First recorded in 1810–20; noun use of verb phrase break out

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use breakout in a sentence

You were thrilled to see this magnificent woman break out of this one horse town.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Night was the first one to really break out and make a movie at that level but what happened afterwards?
The Hot Designer Who Hates Fashion: VK Nagrani Triumphs His Own Way|Tom Teodorczuk|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another said just the act of spending money on self-improvement made him determined to break out of his shell.
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc|Brandy Zadrozny|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, break out a form-fitting garment — think skinny jeans or a curve-hugging dress.
12 Thanksgiving Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work|DailyBurn|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Sporadic riots and fires did break out later during the festival.
A Brief History of the Phrase 'F*ck the Police'|Rich Goldstein|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You know I don't express myself easily; so, if I break out this way, you may know what I feel.
Confidence|Henry James
Sometimes he looks at me as if he were going to break out with that crazy idea to which he treated me the other day.
Confidence|Henry James
The visit you pay only interrupts a domestic quarrel which awaits but your departure to break out afresh.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre
Strikes and labour riots now and then break out, and the Spanish anarchist is not unknown.
Spanish Life in Town and Country|L. Higgin and Eugne E. Street
The war on which the insurgents counted when they thus captured the Bishop did not break out.
Belgium|George W. T. (George William Thomson) Omond

British Dictionary definitions for breakout

break out

verb

(intr, adverb) to begin or arise suddenlypanic broke out

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

(intr, adverb, foll by in) (of the skin) to erupt (in a rash, pimples, etc)

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

(tr, adverb) to open and start usingbreak out the champagne

noun break-out

an escape, esp from prison or confinement

a great success, esp following relatively disappointing performance
(as modifier)a breakout year

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with breakout

break out

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

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]

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]

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]

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