outbreak
noun
out·break
ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk 
1
a
: a sudden or violent increase in activity or currency
the outbreak of war
b
: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease
an outbreak of measles
c
: a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area
an outbreak of locusts
2
Examples of outbreak in a Sentence
there was an immediate outbreak of paper shuffling and a pretense of work when the supervisor passed through the room
the government quelled the outbreak with ruthless efficiency
Recent Examples on the Web
The country could be at risk of losing its elimination status if an outbreak continued for more than one year.
—
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
But recent years have seen a resurgence in cases and outbreaks, mainly due to declining vaccination rates.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
But the market was crashing, posting its biggest single-day loss since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic five years earlier.
—Time, 10 Apr. 2025
More than 500 cases of measles so far in a Texas outbreak have led to 57 hospitalizations and the deaths of two school-age children.
—Jackie Fortiér, NPR, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
But recent years have seen a resurgence in cases and outbreaks, mainly due to declining vaccination rates.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
But the market was crashing, posting its biggest single-day loss since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic five years earlier.
—Time, 10 Apr. 2025
More than 500 cases of measles so far in a Texas outbreak have led to 57 hospitalizations and the deaths of two school-age children.
—Jackie Fortiér, NPR, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outbreak. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outbreak
noun
out·break
ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk
1
: a sudden increase in activity, use, or acceptance
the outbreak of war
2
: something (as an epidemic or revolution) that breaks out
an outbreak of measles
Medical Definition
outbreak
noun
out·break
ˈau̇t-ˌbrāk
1
: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease
an outbreak of measles
2
: a sudden increase in numbers of a harmful organism and especially an insect within a particular area
an outbreak of locusts
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