break

BRAYK/bɹeɪk/

Verbbreaks, breaking, broke, broken

Noun pluralbreaks

Often confused with brake

81 meanings of break

Practice

1
into piecesverbtransitive or intransitive
To make something crack or come apart into pieces, like a glass or a bone, or to crack this way.
Like snapping a dry twig in two.
If you drop that glass, you might break it.
The branch will break if too much snow piles on it.
UsageSay broke for the past and has broken (not ~~incorrect: has broke~~).
Similarsmash, shatter, crack, fracture, split
Oppositemend, repair, fix
2
a restnouncountable
A short rest from work or school, or a pause in the middle of a show, game, or TV program.
Like stopping to catch your breath during a long walk.
Let's take a break and get some coffee.
She felt much better after a short break.
UsageSay take a break or have a break.
Similarrest, pause, recess, interval, intermission
3
verbtransitive
To stop something that was going on, or to bring it to an end.
I want to break my habit of staying up too late.
The baby's crying broke the quiet of the night.
UsageYou can break the silence or break a habit.
Similarinterrupt, end, disrupt
Note
4
stop workingverbtransitive or intransitive
To stop working, or to make something stop working.
Like a toy that stops moving when a part inside cracks.
If you spill juice on the keyboard, you might break it.
The washing machine broke after only a year.
UsageFor a car, say break down: our car broke down.
Similarfail, malfunction, die, damage, wreck
Oppositefix, repair
5
not keep (a rule)verbtransitive
To not obey a rule, law, or promise.
Like crossing a line you agreed not to cross.
If you break the rules, you'll be punished.
He broke his promise to call her every night.
UsageYou break or keep a promise.
Similarviolate, breach, flout, contravene, infringe
Oppositeobey, keep, observe, honor
Note
6
overcome a barrierverbtransitive
To force a barrier open so it no longer blocks the way.
Like knocking down a fence that blocks a path.
The crowd tried to break the police line.
Soldiers broke the enemy's defenses at dawn.
Similarbreach, penetrate, smash
Note
7
beat a recordverbtransitive
To do better than a record or number that was set before.
Like jumping higher than anyone has jumped before.
The team hopes to break one million in ticket sales this year.
She broke the school record for the long jump.
UsageYou break an old record and set a new one.
Similarbeat, surpass, exceed, top, smash
Note
8
school holidaynouncountable
A short holiday, or a time of days or weeks when schools and colleges have no classes.
Like a long pause in the school year.
School starts again after the winter break next Monday.
The students relaxed during their long summer break.
UsageSay spring break or winter break.
Similarholiday, vacation, recess
Note
9
come into viewverbintransitive
To suddenly appear or come into view.
Like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.
The sun broke through the clouds just after lunch.
Every morning we wait for the sun to break through the clouds.
UsageOften used with through or across: the sun broke through the clouds.
Similarburst, erupt, emerge
Note
10
verbintransitive
To suddenly start doing something different or get into a new state, like breaking into a run.
The horse broke free and ran across the field.
My dog will always break into a run when he sees the park.
UsageSay break into a run or break free.
Similarburst
11
verbintransitive
To be crushed by very great sadness or grief.
I watched him break when he heard his dog had died.
Her heart broke when her best friend moved away.
UsagePeople usually say my heart is breaking.
Similarcrack, crumble
Note
12
verbtransitive
To change something, often money, into smaller parts, like a big bill into smaller bills.
The store couldn't break my fifty-dollar bill.
The teacher broke the class into groups of four.
UsageBreak a twenty means change it for smaller money.
Similarchange, split, divide
13
report firstverbtransitive
To make news known for the first time, or to help a new band or singer become known.
Like being the first to share big news with everyone.
The reporter was first to break the story.
She broke the news to her family gently.
UsageUse to before the person hearing the news: break the news to her. The news is often bad.
Similarreveal, disclose, announce, report, release
Oppositesuppress, withhold, conceal
Note
14
nouncountable
A stop in something that was going on, or a clear change from the way things were before.
Like a sudden silence in the middle of a song.
There was a short break in the music.
There was a break in the phone signal during the call.
UsageA break in the music is a pause. A break with the past is a big change.
Similarinterruption, pause, gap, lull, departure
Oppositecontinuation, continuity
Note
15
verbtransitive
To throw something into disorder by scattering or piercing its arrangement.
Like kicking over a neat stack of blocks so they scatter everywhere.
The cavalry charge broke the enemy ranks.
A strong charge can break a line of soldiers and send them running.
Similardisrupt, shatter, pierce, breach, rout
Note
16
crush spiritverbtransitive
To make a person or animal lose all hope or courage.
Like a candle flame that slowly fades to nothing.
Years in prison did not break him.
Harsh training can break a young horse's spirit.
Similarcrush, subdue, demoralize, cow, tame
Note
17
bankruptverbtransitive
To make someone lose all their money.
Like a leak that slowly empties a full tank until nothing is left.
The lawsuit could break the small company.
Bad investments broke him within a year.
Similarruin, bankrupt, impoverish, beggar
Oppositeenrich
Note

Less common meanings

18
nouncolloquialcountable
A lucky chance that helps someone do well, especially in their job.
Her big break came when a TV producer heard her sing at a wedding.
Finding such a cheap apartment so close to work was a lucky break.
UsagePeople say a lucky break or a big break.
Similarchance, opportunity, opening
19
nouncountable
Money taken off what someone has to pay, like a price or a tax, as a special favor or help.
The shop gave me a break on the price because the box was damaged.
Seniors get a break on bus fares during the week.
UsageSay a tax break, or a break on the rent.
Similardiscount, reduction
20
nouncountable
A short time apart from a boyfriend or girlfriend, with a chance of getting back together.
Like pressing pause on a video, planning to start it again later.
They decided to take a break after arguing all summer.
After their break, the two got back together in the fall.
UsageCouples take a break; a final end is a breakup.
Similarseparation
Oppositereconciliation
21
nouncountable
A moment when something splits or snaps into pieces.
Like the snap of a twig into two halves.
There was a clean break in the bone, the doctor said.
The break in the rope sent the bucket crashing down.
UsagePeople say a clean break.
Similarsplit
Note
22
verbintransitive
To stop work for a short time in order to rest.
Like pausing a game to catch your breath.
Let's break for lunch now.
They broke for a few minutes between sessions.
UsageSay break for lunch.
Similarpause, rest, stop, recess
Oppositeresume
23
nouncountable
An open space or gap in something, or between two things.
Like a gap in a row of trees.
Sunlight came through a break in the clouds.
We slipped through a break in the fence.
UsageSay a break in the clouds.
Similargap, opening, hole, space, breach
24
nouncountable
On a computer, a split that makes text start on a new line or page.
Put a break after the title so the story starts on a new page.
I deleted the extra breaks, and now the poem fits on one page.
Note
25
verbintransitive
Of the day or morning, to come and begin.
Wait for the day to break, and then we can see the path.
We watched the sun come up as morning broke over the lake.
UsageSay dawn broke or day broke.
Similardawn
Note
26
verbintransitive
Of a wave, to curl over and fall into white foam, especially when it reaches shallow water.
Each wave breaks into white foam as it reaches the beach.
Big waves break close to the shore here, so swim carefully.
UsageWaves break on the beach.
Similarcrash
Note
27
cushionverbtransitive
To stop or slow a fall so something does not hit the ground hard.
Like a soft mattress catching someone who jumps.
The thick bushes helped break her fall.
He put out his arms to break the fall.
UsageSay break your fall.
Similarcushion, soften, check
28
verbtransitive
To suddenly run toward a place to get away.
If the cat sees the dog, it will break for the fence.
The thief broke for the exit when the alarm went off.
UsageSay break for a place: the cat broke for the fence.
Similardash, bolt, run
Note
29
nouncountable
A quick, sudden attempt to get away or escape.
Like a rabbit darting out of its cage the moment the door opens.
The prisoners planned their break for midnight.
He made a break for the door when no one was looking.
UsageSay make a break for it.
Similarescape, getaway, flight, dash, bolt
Note
30
come to an endverbintransitive
Of a long spell of hot, cold, or dry weather, or a fever, to end.
Like a long storm that suddenly stops and lets the sun through.
The hot weather finally broke after a week.
The doctor says her fever should break by tomorrow morning.
UsagePeople say the fever broke when it ends.
Similarend, lift, subside, abate
Note
31
nouncountable
In snooker, the points one player scores in one turn at the table.
He missed an easy red, and his break ended at 31.
Her break of 75 points helped her win the snooker match.
Note
32
verbtransitive
To open a safe without the right key or code.
Like getting a locked door open without the key.
The old thief knew how to break almost any safe.
She broke the old safe open after losing the combination.
Similarcrack, force
33
deepen (voice)verbintransitive
Of a boy's voice, to become lower and deeper as he grows up.
Like a small whistle slowly turning into a deep horn.
His voice began to break when he turned thirteen.
By summer, the boy's voice had broken completely.
UsageSay his voice broke.
Similardeepen, crack
Note
34
verbintransitive
Of a voice, to crack or suddenly sound different because of strong feelings or strain.
I heard her voice break when she said goodbye to her old dog.
His voice broke on the last high note of the song.
Similarcrack, falter, waver
Note
35
verbtransitive
In tennis, to win a game when the other player is serving.
She broke her opponent's serve to take the lead.
It is hard to break a player who serves that fast.
Oppositehold
Note
36
nouncountable
In tennis, a game won by the player or players who did not serve.
She needs one more break to win the set.
His strong returns earned him an early break in the match.
Note
37
verbtransitive
To train a young or wild animal, especially a horse, to carry a rider, pull loads or do other work.
Her grandfather could break a wild horse in a few weeks.
The donkey was broken to carry packs up the mountain.
Similartame, train
Note
38
verbslangtransitive
To make a game too easy by changing its rules or using a weak spot in them.
Letting one team start with ten extra points would break the game.
My brother broke the board game by finding a rule that let him take two turns every time.
Oppositebalance
Note
39
verbintransitive
In pool and similar games, to take the first shot and hit the group of balls apart.
You won last time, so I break first.
He breaks well and often sinks a ball on his first shot.
Note
40
nouncountable
The first shot in a game of pool, snooker or billiards.
It's your break, so go ahead and start.
He hit the break so hard that the white ball jumped off the table.
Note
41
nouncountable
In soccer, an attack made right after a team gets the ball back from the other team.
Our team won the ball and scored on the break.
Their fast winger is dangerous on the break.
Similarcounterattack, counter
Note
42
nouncountable
A short part of a song where some players stop and the others keep going.
Everyone got up and danced during the drum break.
The singer took a drink of water during the long guitar break.
Similarsolo
Note
43
verbtransitive
To find out what a secret code means, or to find out who did a crime.
It took the spies weeks to break the enemy's code.
The police finally broke the case when a witness came forward.
UsageYou break or crack a code.
Similarcrack, solve, decipher, decode
44
verbintransitive
To start or to finish, used about a storm.
The farmers waited for the storm to break and bring rain to the dry fields.
When the storm finally broke, the sun came out over the wet streets.
Similarhit, start (entry), pass, end
Note
45
verbintransitive
To separate back into the different liquids it was made of, used about a sauce or similar mixture.
If the butter is too hot, the sauce will break.
My mayonnaise broke and turned into a greasy, runny mess.
Similarseparate, split, curdle
Oppositeemulsify
Note
46
verb
To stop putting on a play.
47
verbobsolete
To have your business fail, lose all your money, or be unable to pay your debts.
‘I knew he was in some such low way—He broke did not he?’
1791, Jane Austen, ‘A Collection of Letters’
48
verb
Of shares, to go down in price very fast.
49
verb
To make part of a computer program stop working.
50
verb
Of a sound, to start suddenly.
51
verb
To suddenly end something that had stayed the same, such as a silence.
52
verb
In backgammon, to take one of your two pieces away from a point, leaving one.
53
verb
To give a soldier a lower rank.
54
verb
To stop two things being joined.
55
verb
In sports, to turn quickly from defending to attacking.
56
verbobsolete
To tell or reveal something, such as news or a plan.
Katharine, break thy mind to me.
1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”
57
verb
To grow weaker in body or mind.
58
verb
To make something weaker or less solid.
59
verb
To take away someone's official job or rank.
60
verbarchaic
To stop being friends with someone.
61
verb
To make a computer program stop early.
62
verb
To pause a program to look for mistakes in it.
63
verb
To make the text go onto a new line.
64
noun
A sudden big drop in share prices.
65
noun
The time when morning starts.
66
noun
A key press or signal that stops or pauses a computer program.
67
noun
A place where a program is set to pause.
68
nounBritish
A change in the weather after a long time of the same kind.
69
noun
In golf, the way a ball curves as it rolls on the green.
70
noun
A spot where waves curl over and fall into white foam.
71
noun
The moment horses start running at the beginning of a race.
72
noun
Opening packs of trading cards for people who paid to get what is inside.
73
noundated
A big four-wheeled horse carriage with a folding top, driver in front and servant behind.
74
noun
A frame on wheels used to teach horses to pull.
75
noun
A harsh metal bit for a horse's mouth, used to control it.
76
noun
The point where a woodwind instrument switches from its low notes to its high range.
77
noun
The place where a singer's voice changes from low to high.
78
noun
Rough land with cliffs and deep valleys beside a river.
79
nounobsolete
A mistake.
"Maybe he will some day," says the Missus, and then her and Bessie pretended like they'd made a break and was embarrassed.
1916, Ring W. Lardner, “Three Kings and a Pair”
80
noun
A drum part of a song that a DJ plays again and again.
81
verbslang
To do a street dance with spins on the floor.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of break apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English brecan, meaning "to break", going back to an ancient root that also meant "to break".

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Break derives from Old English brecan, meaning "to break". en.wiktionary.org
Brecan descends from an ancient root meaning "to break". en.wiktionary.org
The ancestral root *bʰreg- meant "to break". en.wiktionary.org