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
Since the initial plague outbreak in the United States in the early 1900s, the disease-causing bacteria moved from urban rats to rural rodents.
—
Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
Thankfully, Lawrence has only experienced one other outbreak since that 2012 episode.
—Diane Herbst, People.com, 11 July 2025
Fijian villages suffer chronic outbreaks of waterborne diseases like typhoid, leptospirosis and dysentery.
—Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
There have been 27 measles outbreaks — defined by the CDC as three or more related cases — throughout the U.S. so far this year.
—Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for outbreak
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Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
Thankfully, Lawrence has only experienced one other outbreak since that 2012 episode.
—Diane Herbst, People.com, 11 July 2025
Fijian villages suffer chronic outbreaks of waterborne diseases like typhoid, leptospirosis and dysentery.
—Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
There have been 27 measles outbreaks — defined by the CDC as three or more related cases — throughout the U.S. so far this year.
—Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 10 July 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 21 Jul. 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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