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

See Examples For:

break out

Microsoft’s stock is destined to break out, according to Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

But during the test, the AI software used its hacking skills to break out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

That's not to say they can't break out the dance moves.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

The ETF previously attempted to break out above an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern near the $106 level but failed to hold that move.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026

I felt a layer of sweat break out on my upper lip.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

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