outbreak
OWTB-rayk
Outbreak (noun) means a sudden start or spread of something unwelcome, such as a disease or violence. Example: “Staff closed the kitchen after an outbreak of food poisoning at the hotel.”
noun
1
A sudden start or spread of something unwelcome, such as a disease or violence.
"Staff closed the kitchen after an outbreak of food poisoning at the hotel."
"Health officials responded quickly to the flu outbreak at the school."
"The outbreak of fighting forced thousands of families to flee."
How to use outbreak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sudden, unwanted eruption of something harmful, especially illness or violence.
Common pairings
disease outbreak
outbreak of violence
contain an outbreak
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Word forms
- Plural
- outbreaks
- Third person singular
- outbreaks
- Past tense
- outbroke, outbroken
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Staff closed the kitchen after an _____ of food poisoning at the hotel.
Etymology
From Old English ūtābrecan, "to break out," built from "out-" and "break."
Related words
Rhymes for outbreak
See all rhymes for outbreak →Frequently asked questions
What does “outbreak” mean?
The word “outbreak” means a sudden start or spread of something unwelcome, such as a disease or violence. In plain terms, a sudden, unwanted eruption of something harmful, especially illness or violence.
How do you pronounce “outbreak”?
“Outbreak” is pronounced OWTB-rayk (/ˈaʊtbɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “outbreak” in a sentence?
Here is “outbreak” used in a sentence: “Health officials responded quickly to the flu outbreak at the school.”
What is the opposite of “outbreak”?
The opposite of “outbreak” — its antonyms — is inbreak.
What part of speech is “outbreak”?
“Outbreak” is a noun.
Where does the word “outbreak” come from?
The word “outbreak” comes from Old English. From Old English ūtābrecan, "to break out," built from "out-" and "break.".
Is “outbreak” a common word?
“Outbreak” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between an "outbreak" and an "epidemic"?
An "outbreak" is a sudden rise in cases of a disease, often in a limited area or group. An "epidemic" is a larger outbreak that spreads widely through a population or region.
What is the difference between an "outbreak" and a "pandemic"?
An "outbreak" is a sudden, often local, appearance of a disease. A "pandemic" is an epidemic that has spread across many countries or continents, affecting large numbers of people.
What is the difference between "outbreak" and "outburst"?
An "outbreak" is the sudden start or spread of something unwelcome, such as disease or violence. An "outburst" is a sudden release of strong emotion or energy, such as an outburst of anger or laughter.
What words commonly follow "outbreak"?
"Outbreak" is usually followed by "of," as in an outbreak of measles, an outbreak of violence, or an outbreak of war.
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