# outbreak

/ˈaʊtˌbɹeɪk/ (US) · /ˈaʊtbɹeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outbreak
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. disease or illness

noun · CEFR B2

the sudden start of a disease in a particular place.

For teachers: the sudden occurrence of a disease or medical condition within a specific population or geographic area.

- The school closed for a week due to an outbreak of the flu.
- Health officials worked tirelessly to contain the cholera outbreak before it could spread to the neighbouring provinces.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of' and the name of the illness.

### 2. violence or war

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the sudden start of fighting, war, or social trouble.

For teachers: the sudden commencement of conflict, violence, or civil unrest.

- The outbreak of war in the region forced many families to leave their homes.
- Diplomats struggled to maintain peace, but the sudden outbreak of hostilities at the border made further negotiations impossible.

Usage: Frequently used with 'of' followed by a noun like 'violence', 'war', or 'hostilities'.

Teaching tip: While 'start' is common for general events, 'outbreak' is reserved for negative or destructive events.

## Examples

- The hospital is preparing for a sudden outbreak of the flu.
- Health officials worked quickly to contain the outbreak before it could spread to neighboring cities.
- Historians often debate whether the sudden outbreak of hostilities was an inevitable result of long-standing tensions or a consequence of a single diplomatic failure.

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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.