# break out of

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/break-out-of
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to escape from a place where you are kept, like a prison or a cage.

For teachers: to escape from confinement or a restrictive situation; often used with a physical location or a metaphorical state as the object.

## Examples

- The lion tried to break out of its cage.
- Three prisoners managed to break out of the high-security facility during the storm last night.
- The young artist struggled for years to break out of the traditional styles imposed by her mentors to find her own voice.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He broke out the prison." but "He broke out of the prison." — the preposition 'of' is required to connect the action to the place being escaped from.

## Usage notes

- always followed by an object representing the place or situation of confinement.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'break out' (intransitive, used for fires or wars starting) to show how the preposition 'of' changes the meaning to escape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.