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break out meaning and examples

2025-09-12

Meaning

The phrasal verb break out has several meanings depending on context:

  1. To escape suddenly from a place such as prison.
  2. To start suddenly (e.g., war, fire, epidemic).
  3. To develop suddenly (e.g., skin rash, acne, sweat).
  4. To use something kept in reserve, often expressed as break out something (e.g., “break out the champagne”).

Grammar and Usage

  • Verb type: intransitive (when used for escape or sudden occurrence), transitive (when used with an object, e.g., "break out the wine").

  • Typical patterns:

    • break out of + place → escape (e.g., break out of prison).
    • break out + noun → bring into use (e.g., break out the fireworks).
    • disease/fire/war breaks out → something begins suddenly.

Common Phrases

  • break out of prison
  • break out in a rash
  • break out in a cold sweat
  • break out the champagne
  • a fire breaks out
  • war breaks out

Collocations

  • break out of jail, prison, confinement
  • break out in a rash, hives, sweat
  • break out fire, war, violence, epidemic
  • break out celebration, laughter, champagne

Examples

  1. The prisoners tried to break out of jail last night.
  2. A fire broke out in the kitchen, but it was quickly controlled.
  3. War broke out between the two neighboring countries.
  4. She suddenly broke out in a rash after eating shellfish.
  5. He broke out in a cold sweat during the interview.
  6. Let’s break out the champagne to celebrate your promotion.
  7. Violence broke out after the football match.
  8. He broke out of his routine and decided to travel the world.
  • escape
  • erupt
  • burst out
  • flee
  • start suddenly

Antonym

  • be contained
  • subside
  • be suppressed
  • calm down