break out
Britishverb
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(intr, adverb) to begin or arise suddenly
panic broke out
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(intr, adverb) to make an escape, esp from prison or confinement
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(of the skin) to erupt (in a rash, pimples, etc)
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(tr, adverb) to launch or introduce (a new product)
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(tr, adverb) to open and start using
break out the champagne
noun
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an escape, esp from prison or confinement
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a great success, esp following relatively disappointing performance
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( as modifier )
a breakout year
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Develop suddenly and forcefully. For example, A fire broke out last night , or He broke out in a sweat . [ a.d. 1000]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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Isolate a portion of a body of data, as in Please break out the sales figures from the quarterly report . [Mid-1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Micron Technology’s stock remains very well-priced despite its explosive rally this year, but some analysts think it could soon break out of the bargain bin.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026
Where mortgage rates settle in the second half of the year is crucial to the housing market’s ability to break out of a stubborn sales slump, which is now well into its fourth consecutive year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
My arms break out in a million goose bumps.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
