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

: insurrection, revolt

Synonyms

• burst
• flare
• flare-up
• flash
• flicker
• flurry
• flutter
• outburst
• spurt

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

Children, particularly those under 5, make up the majority of cases connected to the outbreak. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024

Local officials have warned that a lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation conditions could lead to a disease outbreak. —Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024

California has already established a testing system to respond to the outbreak, per a press release. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

Throughout the bird-flu outbreak, the main concern has been its potential to cause the next pandemic. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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