# breakout

/ˈbɹeɪˌkaʊt/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪkaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breakout
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. prison escape

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: a forceful or clandestine escape from a place of confinement, typically a prison.

- The local news reported a major breakout at the high-security prison last night.
- Following the prison breakout, authorities established checkpoints on every major road leading out of the county.

### 2. small group meeting

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- After the main speech, we will move to the breakout rooms for a group discussion.
- The conference schedule includes several breakout sessions designed to allow delegates to discuss specific technical challenges in smaller groups.

### 3. sudden appearance

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- Stress can often cause a sudden breakout of acne on your face.
- The patient reported a sudden breakout of hives shortly after starting the new course of antibiotics.

### 4. sudden success

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The young actor became a star after his breakout role in the summer's biggest movie.
- Critics are calling the novel a breakout success that will likely define the author's career for years to come.

### 5. splitting a signal

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- You will need a breakout cable to connect the different speakers to the main system.
- The technician used a breakout box to monitor individual signal lines without interrupting the primary data flow.

## Examples

- The prisoner made a daring breakout at night.
- The breakout of the new virus forced schools to close for a week.
- The startup's breakout success in the Asian market surprised investors who had previously doubted its long-term viability.

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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.