breakout

American  

[breyk-out] / ˈbreɪkˌaʊt /

noun

• breakouts
  plural

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

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

3. an itemization; breakdown.

   a hotel bill with a breakout of each service offered.

4. an instance of surpassing any previous achievement.

   a breakout in gold prices.

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

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adjective

1. of or constituting a sudden increase, advance, or unexpected success.

   The director has finally scored with a breakout movie.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• breakouts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of breakout

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

breakout breakouts

The breakout of war is a breathless thing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Her breakout role came in 2006 as Claire Bennet, a high school cheerleader with regenerative powers, on NBC’s “Heroes.”

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

Each day, it seems that an upside breakout is possible, but it still hasn’t broken out.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Villarreal: Talk about, like, a breakout nomination this year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

“You’ve got a little breakout there on your forehead. You’re not eatin’ that greasy food you’re selling, are you?”

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Dine in the historic Great Hall, participate in timely expert-led breakouts and connect with global decision makers in one of the world’s most iconic academic settings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

But breakouts often get tested, and the pullback the dollar saw to set support took the form of a “flag” pattern, shown below.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026

The breakouts happen more frequently here, and they become more debilitating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

The move lasted just one session before reversing, a red flag because the strongest breakouts typically work immediately.

From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026

When kids did stage desperate, pathetic breakouts, it had been in small groups of Reds, Oranges, and Yellows.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken