outbreak

[out-breyk]

noun

1. a sudden breaking break out or occurrence, especially of something bad or unpleasant; eruption.

   the outbreak of war.

2. a sudden and active manifestation.

   an outbreak of hives.

3. a sudden increase in the incidence of a disease or medical condition in a particular place or population: a worldwide polio outbreak in the early 1900s.

   a serious outbreak of malaria in northern Uganda;

   a worldwide polio outbreak in the early 1900s.

4. an outburst.

   an outbreak of temper.

5. an insurrection, revolt, or mutiny.

6. a public disturbance; riot.

outbreak

/ ˈaʊtˌbreɪk /

noun

1. a sudden, violent, or spontaneous occurrence, esp of disease or strife

Word History and Origins

Origin of outbreak¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; out- + break

Example Sentences

It added a report into the outbreak would be published in due course.

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Kiffin, now the head coach at Ole Miss, has somehow caused an outbreak of total pandemonium at three of the proudest college football programs in the country—including his own.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

According to the central bank, Sudan produced just over 80 tonnes of gold per year before the war's outbreak, exporting $2.85 billion worth of the precious metal in 2021.

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The truce has already been marked by several outbreaks of violence in the Palestinian territory, devastated by over two years of hostilities triggered by the bloody attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023.

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"World Health Organization in touch with Beijing after mystery viral pneumonia outbreak," it says.

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Related Words

• crash 
• disruption 
• epidemic 
• eruption 
• explosion 
• flare-up 
• onset 
• plague 
• storm 
• surge 
• uprising