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
Synonyms
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
Slivered onions served on the Quarter Pounders were the likely source of the outbreak, the CDC said.
—
Jonel Aleccia, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
About 6-12 million lice outbreaks occur yearly in children ages 3-11.5
Research points to girls being more likely to get head lice than boys.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
Since the outbreak of hostilities, Israel has not come close to that average, with the daily aid figures peaking at 225 trucks in April before plummeting dramatically.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
The steady uptick in cases—in both farm animals and humans—has some experts worried about the risk of a wider outbreak of this potentially pandemic-causing virus.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outbreak 
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Jonel Aleccia, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
About 6-12 million lice outbreaks occur yearly in children ages 3-11.5
Research points to girls being more likely to get head lice than boys.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
Since the outbreak of hostilities, Israel has not come close to that average, with the daily aid figures peaking at 225 trucks in April before plummeting dramatically.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
The steady uptick in cases—in both farm animals and humans—has some experts worried about the risk of a wider outbreak of this potentially pandemic-causing virus.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outbreak
Dictionary Entries Near outbreak
Cite this Entry
“Outbreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outbreak. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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