phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

break out

to escape from confinement

What it means

To escape from a place where you are being held, like a prison. It can also mean that something unpleasant suddenly starts, such as a fire, war, or skin problem.

Examples

  • Three prisoners broke out of the maximum-security jail last weekend.
  • A serious fire broke out in the warehouse just after midnight.
  • I always break out in spots before an important event.
  • World War One broke out in the summer of 1914.

Where it comes from

Mostly intransitive. The noun 'breakout' (one word) refers to an escape or a sudden start of something. Common in news writing.

Related phrasal verbs

#break in#break down#blow up#get away

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