break out
B1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
To suddenly start, especially a war, disease, fire, or other undesirable event; to escape from confinement.
To suddenly become visible on the skin (e.g., rash); to suddenly become very successful or prominent; to bring something out for use.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a verb, often used as a phrasal verb with separable particle (e.g., 'break it out'). Can be nominalized as 'breakout' or 'break-out'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Break out' is equally common in both varieties. The nominal form 'breakout' (one word) is slightly more prevalent in US English.
Connotations
Identical core connotations of suddenness and emergence.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Slight US preference for 'break out' in the context of sudden success (e.g., 'She broke out as a star').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[war/disease/fire] + break outbreak out + [in a rash/sweat]break out + [of prison/a place]break + [something] + outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break out in a cold sweat”
- “Break out the champagne”
- “Break out of one's shell/routine”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a product, company, or professional achieving sudden market success or prominence.
Academic
Used to describe the sudden onset of epidemics, conflicts, or social movements in historical/social analysis.
Everyday
Commonly used for skin conditions, starting fights, or escaping from a boring situation.
Technical
In computing/security, refers to escaping a sandboxed or virtualized environment.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Fighting broke out in the city centre after the match.
- She broke out in a terrible rash from the new detergent.
- Shall we break out the good whisky for the occasion?
- He managed to break out of the dull routine.
American English
- A fire broke out in the old warehouse last night.
- I break out in hives when I'm really stressed.
- Let's break out the grill for the Fourth of July.
- The startup finally broke out in the tech market.
adverb
British English
- This is used as a verb. No standard adverbial form.
American English
- This is used as a verb. No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- She starred in a breakout role on the new series.
- The band had a breakout year with three hit singles.
American English
- He's a breakout star from that viral video.
- The company reported breakout success in Asian markets.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A fire broke out in the forest.
- He wants to break out of prison.
- War broke out between the two countries.
- The children broke out in laughter.
- She broke out in a cold sweat before her interview.
- The new app broke out from the competition and gained millions of users.
- Attempts to break out of the economic stagnation have so far been unsuccessful.
- The virus, having broken out in a remote province, began its rapid spread.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a prisoner BREAKing the wall to get OUT. Or, a rash BREAKing through the skin to come OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUDDEN CHANGE IS A FORCEFUL EMERGENCE FROM CONTAINMENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'break down' (ломаться). 'Break out of prison' is 'сбежать из тюрьмы', not 'сломать тюрьму'. 'Break out in a rash' is 'покрыться сыпью', a different structure.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'break out' for a gradual beginning. Incorrect: *'The meeting broke out slowly.' Correct: 'The meeting started slowly.'
- Using the wrong preposition: *'He broke out in prison.' (He escaped) vs. 'He broke out in a rash.' (correct).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'break out' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when it means 'to take something out for use' (e.g., 'Break out the maps'). In other meanings, it is not separable (e.g., 'A fight broke out').
'Break out' alone often refers to events (war, fire) or escape. 'Break out in' is used for sudden physical manifestations on the body (sweat, rash, laughter).
Yes, it can describe sudden success ('The actor broke out in Hollywood') or the act of bringing out something for celebration ('Break out the champagne!').
The main noun form is 'breakout' (one word), as in 'a jail breakout' or 'a breakout role'. 'Break-out' (hyphenated) is an older variant.