# outbreaking

Pronunciation: say "OWT-brayk-ing" /ˈaʊtbɹeɪkɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle of outbreak. — present participle and gerund of outbreak
   - Simple: The -ing form of outbreak. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.

## Noun

2. The act of breaking out or erupting suddenly.
   - Simple: The sudden start of something, like a disease, fight, or fire.
   - _Soldiers braced for the outbreaking of fighting once the truce expired._
   - _Public health officials traced the outbreaking of the illness to a single well._
3. Anything that erupts outward or is emitted, such as a shower of sparks.
   - Simple: A thing that suddenly bursts out or is sent out.
   - _The chimney's sudden outbreaking of sparks set the dry roof alight._
   - _A bright outbreaking of flame marked the start of the festival._

## Origin

**Meanings 2–3** — From Middle English "outbrekynge," equivalent to "outbreak" plus "-ing" and/or "out-" plus "breaking."
**Meaning 1** — From "outbreak" plus the suffix "-ing."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/outbreaking (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).