break point
noun
: a situation in tennis in which the receiving player can win the game by scoring the next point
also
: the point so scored
Examples of break point in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No one even had a break point until the ninth game when Krejcikova saved four, closing out the game with her 11th ace of the match.
—
Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023
Facing a break point in a critical game, Bublik hit an underarm a second serve that Thiem quickly got on top of and returned deep in the court.
—Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023
Pegula had run into her quarterfinal wall once more at Wimbledon, despite having a break point for a 5-1 lead in the third set against Marketa Vondrousova, the eventual champion.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2023
Another miscue gave Vondrousova a break point, and Jabeur gifted that with yet another shot into the net.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
Things quieted down quickly enough when, to begin the match, Gauff failed to hold serve, missing a forehand, under no duress, on break point.
—Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2023
On break point, Medvedev won a 20-stroke rally as Sinner’s forehand clipped the netcord and bounced in the doubles alley.
—Marc Berman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2023
Pliskova, who last made the second week in Melbourne in 2019, did not face a break point.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Jan. 2023
Zverev, ripping unreturnable serves and spectacular swing volleys, did not face a break point against an exceedingly talented opponent who had beaten him five times in a row and stolen quite a bit of his thunder in recent seasons as the most successful man in their age group.
—Christopher Clarey, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2021
See More
Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2023
Facing a break point in a critical game, Bublik hit an underarm a second serve that Thiem quickly got on top of and returned deep in the court.
—Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023
Pegula had run into her quarterfinal wall once more at Wimbledon, despite having a break point for a 5-1 lead in the third set against Marketa Vondrousova, the eventual champion.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2023
Another miscue gave Vondrousova a break point, and Jabeur gifted that with yet another shot into the net.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023
Things quieted down quickly enough when, to begin the match, Gauff failed to hold serve, missing a forehand, under no duress, on break point.
—Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2023
On break point, Medvedev won a 20-stroke rally as Sinner’s forehand clipped the netcord and bounced in the doubles alley.
—Marc Berman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2023
Pliskova, who last made the second week in Melbourne in 2019, did not face a break point.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Jan. 2023
Zverev, ripping unreturnable serves and spectacular swing volleys, did not face a break point against an exceedingly talented opponent who had beaten him five times in a row and stolen quite a bit of his thunder in recent seasons as the most successful man in their age group.
—Christopher Clarey, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break point.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1969, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near break point
Cite this Entry
“Break point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20point. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share