English Reference
noun · adjective

breakout

n. · adj.
US /ˈbɹeɪˌkaʊt/ UK /bɹˈeɪkaʊt/ break·out UK spelling breakouts

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.an escape from a prison or a place where someone is being held.

    n.a forceful or clandestine escape from a place of confinement, typically a prison.

    Simple

    The local news reported a major breakout at the high-security prison last night.

    In context

    Following the prison breakout, authorities established checkpoints on every major road leading out of the county.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a short meeting for a small group of people during a larger conference or event.

    n.a secondary session or meeting room used for small-group discussion during a larger convention or conference.

    Simple

    After the main speech, we will move to the breakout rooms for a group discussion.

    In context

    The conference schedule includes several breakout sessions designed to allow delegates to discuss specific technical challenges in smaller groups.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    n.the sudden start of something, like a disease or a rash on the skin.

    n.the sudden eruption or appearance of a physical condition, such as a skin rash or an infectious disease.

    Simple

    Stress can often cause a sudden breakout of acne on your face.

    In context

    The patient reported a sudden breakout of hives shortly after starting the new course of antibiotics.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.used to describe a person or thing that suddenly becomes very famous or successful.

    adj.denoting a person or creative work that achieves sudden, widespread mainstream popularity or commercial success.

    Simple

    The young actor became a star after his breakout role in the summer's biggest movie.

    In context

    Critics are calling the novel a breakout success that will likely define the author's career for years to come.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Electronics

    adj.used to describe a cable or device that splits one signal into several smaller ones.

    adj.referring to a component or cable designed to split a single multi-channel signal into several individual signals.

    Simple

    You will need a breakout cable to connect the different speakers to the main system.

    In context

    The technician used a breakout box to monitor individual signal lines without interrupting the primary data flow.

But after a breakout World Cup, maybe Bellingham will reassert himself as an attacking midfielder.

Al Jazeera· 15 Aug 2026

During the 1944 Cowra breakout, over 900 prisoners attempted to escape from an Allied camp in Australia.

Smithsonian Magazine· 5 Aug 2026

Deverbal from break out. The video game genre is named after Breakout, the first game of this kind, released in 1976 by Atari.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated