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
An outbreak has been spreading through the South Plains region of Texas since late January, the Texas Department of State Health Services said on Friday.
—
Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The outbreak has spread to dairy cattle, with cases confirmed in 973 herds across 17 states.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
The number of measles cases linked to an outbreak in western Texas has grown to 90, according to new data released on Friday.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Holler to Holler Holler to Holler is a project that was started by students and faculty of Appalachian studies at Virginia Tech in 2022 in the wake another outbreak of devastating flooding that affected 12 counties in eastern Kentucky.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The outbreak has spread to dairy cattle, with cases confirmed in 973 herds across 17 states.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
The number of measles cases linked to an outbreak in western Texas has grown to 90, according to new data released on Friday.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Holler to Holler Holler to Holler is a project that was started by students and faculty of Appalachian studies at Virginia Tech in 2022 in the wake another outbreak of devastating flooding that affected 12 counties in eastern Kentucky.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 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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