-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy
- ALL
Definition of break
broke
play \ˈbrōk\;broken
play \ˈbrō-kən\;breaking
transitive verb
1a : to separate into parts with suddenness or violence broke a plate Break the chocolate bar in half.b (1) : fracture break a bone (2) to fracture a bone of (a bodily part) the blow broke her arm (3) to dislocate or dislocate and fracture a bone of (the neck or back)c : to cause an open wound in : rupture break the skind : to cut into and turn over the surface of break the soile : to render inoperable broke his watch
2a : violate, transgress break the law break a promise breaking conventionsb law : to invalidate (a will) by action under the provisions of the law
3a archaic : to force entry intob : to burst and force a way through break the sound barrier break a racial barrierc : to escape by force from break jaild : to make or effect by cutting, forcing, or pressing through break a trail through the woods
4 : to disrupt the order or compactness of break formation
5 : to make ineffective as a binding force break the spell
6a : to defeat utterly and end as an effective force : destroy used starvation to break the enemyb : to crush the spirit of brutal methods broke the prisonerc : to make tractable or submissive: such as (1) past participle often broke : to train (an animal) to adjust to the service or convenience of humans equipment used to break horses a halter-broke horse (2) : inure, accustomd : to exhaust in health, strength, or capacity broken by his struggle for power
7a : to stop or bring to an end suddenly : halt break a deadlock breaking a bad habit decided to break off all ties to the organizationb : interrupt, suspend break the silence with a cryc : to open and bring about suspension of operation break an electric circuitd : to destroy unity or completeness of break a dining room set by buying a chaire : to change the appearance of uniformity of a dormer breaks the level rooff : to split the surface of could see fish breaking waterg : to cause to discontinue a habit tried to break him of smoking
8a : to make known : tell break the bad news gentlyb : to bring to attention or prominence initially radio stations breaking new musicians break a news story
break a leg
break bread
break camp
break cover
or less commonlybreak covert
break even
break free
break ground
break into
break one's heart
break one's wrists
break ranks
or less commonlybreak rank
break the back of
break the ice
break wind
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of break in a Sentence
She broke the cup when she dropped it on the floor.
Break the chocolate bar into pieces so that everyone can have some.
It is easiest to break a chain at its weakest link.
A chain will break at its weakest link.
The fall broke his arm.
His arm broke in three places when he fell.
A bruise forms when a blood vessel breaks under the skin.
Recent Examples of break from the Web
-
A 41-year-old Milwaukee man charged with breaking into a woman's house and raping her at gunpoint now faces charges of plotting to kill the woman from behind bars.
-
The landmark's namesake, Colonel James Withers Sloss, formed Sloss Furnace Company and broke ground on the Magic City's first furnace in 1880.
-
After meeting on the film and starting a romance, Miley and Liam became engaged, but later broke up.
-
The violence in Baltimore began to dramatically spike following the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man whose neck was broken in the back of a police transport wagon.
-
A physical altercation broke out between the gunman and a 37-year-old victim, but the suspected robber was eventually detained by the victim and another store employee.
-
Only four field players have more than 10 caps, and probably the biggest name, Chivas forward Alan Pulido, is out after breaking his arm Saturday against Paraguay in El Tri’s final tune-up.
-
A water main at the airport broke Tuesday afternoon.
-
Highlights of the meet include NSJ swimmer Shane Collins breaking the 13-14 backstroke pool record that was set in 1981.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'break'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
break and brake: Remembering Which is Which
It can be hard to apply these words correctly: they sound exactly the same, and their spellings aren't easily connected to their meanings. One of the pair, however, is quite limited in scope, and focusing on when to apply that one can be key.
When the subject is slowing or stopping movement, the word to use is brake. Brake is both a noun, as in "put on the brakes" and "took my foot off the brake," and a verb, as in "brake at the stop sign" and "I brake for moose." As a noun, it's also used before other nouns: "brake fluid," "brake pedal." As in these examples, the word is used in contexts relating to cars, bicycles, and other vehicles. It's also used figuratively, however, to talk about the slowing or stopping of activity, as in "putting the brakes on spending."
Break also functions as both a noun and a verb, and it's the word you want in all other contexts, such as when the topic is something separating into parts or pieces ("the plate will break if it falls," "break a leg," "a bad break"), being damaged to the point of no longer working ("break a watch"), failing to do what is promised ("break a promise"), or referring to a time during which activity stops ("take a break").
If you have difficulty keeping these straight and are inclined to think in pictures, you might want to imagine a foot nestled in the top of the k in brake, pressing that top line down onto the e, which isn't saying a thing, because the k has put the brakes on.
Origin and Etymology of break
Middle English breken, from Old English brecan; akin to Old High German brehhan to break, Latin frangere
break
Definition of break
1a : an act or action of breakingb billiards : the opening shot in a game of pool or billiards
2a : a gap or opening caused or appearing as if caused by damage : a condition produced by or as if by breaking : gap a break in the pipe breaks in the ice a break in the clouds waiting for a break in the trafficb : a gap in an otherwise continuous electric circuit
3 : the action or act of entering, escaping, or emerging from something (such as darkness) often in a sudden or violent way : the action or act of breaking in, breaking out, or breaking forth at break of day a jail break
4 : a place or situation at which a break occurs: such asa : the place at which a word is divided especially at the end of a line of print or writingb : the location at which waves curl over and fall apart in surf or foam : the point at which waves break (see 1break 2c) for surfingc : separation of composed matter at an indicated point; also : the separation between a preview of a website or a particular post on a website and the full content reading the rest of the article after the break
5 : an interruption in continuity a break in the weather: such asa : a notable change of subject matter, attitude, or treatment the break after the eighth line of a sonnetb (1) : an abrupt, significant, or noteworthy change or interruption in a continuous process, trend, or surface dislikes breaks in his daily routine a break in her dancing career fields that extend for miles without a break (2) : a respite from work, school, or duty take a short coffee break college kids on spring break (3) : relief from annoyance —often used to express exasperation or irritation in phrases like give me a break (4) : a planned interruption in a radio or television program a break for the commercialc baseball : deviation of a pitched ball from a straight lined mining : fault, dislocatione horseback riding : failure of a horse to maintain the prescribed gaitf : an abrupt change in musical or vocal pitch or quality a break in her voice as she said goodbyeg tennis : the action or an instance of winning against an opponent's service : the action or an instance of breaking (see 1break 13c) service a service breakh music : a usually solo instrumental passage in jazz, folk, or popular music
6a : dash, rush a base runner making a break for homeb sports : fast break a break toward the basket
7 : a sudden and abrupt decline of prices or values
8a : the start of a raceb boxing : the act of separating after an instance of holding an opponent at close quarters : the act of separating after a clinch
Examples of break in a Sentence
The tank is reinforced to prevent breaks and leaks.
There was a break in the hedge.
We waited for a break in the traffic.
The fields extend for miles without a break.
We chatted during a break in the game.
All employees are entitled to two breaks during the workday.
We've been working all day without a break.
Recent Examples of break from the Web
-
Summer reading programs in South Florida libraries and bookstores encourage students to keep reading during the school break.
-
Death is a permanent break in continuity, and your personal POV cannot be moved from your brain into some other medium, here or in the hereafter.
-
POTUS apparently takes his breaks in 30-minute intervals to get his dose of fixer-upper television.
-
The chassis held up pretty well with only a little break on the bottom.
-
Hikers and others planning to go outdoors are advised to stay in groups,keep hydrated, dress for the heat in light and breathable clothing, take regular breaks and stay indoors if the heat becomes overwhelming.
-
The risk can be reduced if less flammable material is used or if the panels are installed with fire breaks separating them at each floor.
-
The couple met in January 2010 during college break on a snowboarding trip to Sunrise Ski Park in Greer, Ariz.
-
Heidi Varner, of Midland Township, Michigan, said her first break in coverage came after a divorce.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'break'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of break
see 1break
BREAK Defined for English Language Learners
break
playDefinition of break for English Language Learners
-
: to separate (something) into parts or pieces often in a sudden and forceful or violent way
-
: to cause (a bone) to separate into two or more pieces
-
: to open suddenly especially because of pressure from inside
break
Definition of break for English Language Learners
-
: a crack, hole, etc., that is caused by damage, injury, or pressure
-
: an opening or space in something : an opening that makes it possible for someone or something to enter or pass through something
-
: something that causes a change or interruption
BREAK Defined for Kids
Definition of break for Students
broke
\ˈbrōk\;broken
\ˈbrō-kən\;breaking
1 : to separate into parts especially suddenly or forcibly break a stick break into groups
2 : to cause (a bone) to separate into two or more pieces
3 : to stop working or cause to stop working because of damage or wear I broke my watch.
4 : to fail to keep broke the law break a promise
5 : to force a way They broke out of jail.
6 : to cut into and turn over break the soil
7 : to go through : penetrate break the skin … she broke through the surface of the water … — Kevin Henkes, Olive's Ocean
8 : 2tame break a wild horse
break down
break out
break up
Definition of break for Students
1 : an act of breaking at break of day
2 : something produced by breaking a bad break in the leg
3 : a period of time when an activity stops Let's take a break.
4 : an accidental event a lucky break
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of break
broke
\ˈbrōk\play ;broken
\ˈbrō-kən\play ;breaking
1
transitive verb
a: to snap into pieces : fracture break a boneb: to fracture the bone of (a bodily part) the blow broke her armc: to dislocate or dislocate and fracture a bone of (the neck or back)2a: to cause an open wound in : rupture break the skinb: to rupture the surface of and permit flowing out or effusing break an artery he broke several veins during his seizure
1
intransitive verb
: to fail in health or strength—often used with down he broke down under the strain2: to suffer complete or marked loss of resistance, composure, resolution, morale, or command of a situation—often used with down the prisoner broke down under interrogation and told the whole story
break
Medical Definition of break
1a: an act or action of breaking : fractureb: the act of opening a gap in an electrical circuit
2a: a condition produced by breaking the break in her legb: a gap in an otherwise continuous electric circuit
3: the occurrence of a disease in a person or especially in a domestic animal supposed to be immune to or to have been completely isolated from exposure to that disease
Law Dictionary
break
playLegal Definition of break
broke
\ˈbrōk\ playbroken
\ˈbrō-kən\ playbreaking
\ˈbrā-kiŋ\transitive verb
1 a : violate, transgress break the law b : to invalidate (a will) by a court proceeding
2a : to open (another's real property) by force or without privilege (as consent) for entry —often used in the phrase break and enter one who breaks and enters a dwelling-house of another — W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr. b : to escape by force from breaks prison or escapes or flees from justice — Colorado Revised Statutes
3 : to cause (a strike) to fail and discontinue by means (as force) other than bargaining
intransitive verb
: to escape with forceful effort —often used with out prisoners wounded while attempting to break out
break into
: to enter by force or without privilege an officer may break into a building — Arizona Revised Statutes
Learn More about break
-
See words that rhyme with break Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for break Spanish Central: Translation of break Nglish: Translation of break for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of break for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about break
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up break? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!