break the news

idiom

: to tell (someone) bad news
We tried to break the news to her gently.

Examples of break the news in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With Potter’s help, Olivia gets five final minutes with Rafferty to break the news to him. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025 Watch Goldberg break the news to the show's audience in the video at the top of this post. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2025 According to Deadline, which was first to break the news, Malkovich will play Spencer, the head of a South Florida criminal organization. Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 27 Aug. 2025 The Hollywood Reporter was the first to break the news. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for break the news

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Break the news.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20the%20news. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!