breakdown

1 of 2

noun

break·​down ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n 

1

: the action or result of breaking down: such as

a

: a failure to function

preventing a breakdown of the health-care system

b

: failure to progress or have effect : disintegration

a breakdown of negotiations

c

: a complete loss of physical, mental, or emotional vitality : a physical, mental, or nervous collapse

d

: the process of decomposing

the breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen

cellular breakdown

e

: division into categories

a statistical breakdown of data

: classification

also : an account analyzed into categories

a budget breakdown

2

: a fast shuffling dance

also : music for such a dance

break down

2 of 2

verb

broke down; broken down; breaking down; breaks down

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to fall or collapse by breaking or shattering

b

: to make ineffective

break down legal barriers

2

a

: to divide into parts or categories

b

: to separate (something, such as a chemical compound) into simpler substances : decompose

c

: to take apart especially for storage or shipment and for later reassembling

intransitive verb

1

a

: to stop functioning because of breakage or wear

b

: to become inoperative or ineffective : fail

negotiations broke down

c

: to fail in strength or vitality

her health broke down

d

: to succumb to mental or emotional stress

broke down and cried

e

: to lose one's resolve : give in

finally broke down and bought a computer

2

of horses : to severely injure the supporting ligament or bones of the fetlock joint

3

a

: to be susceptible to or undergo analysis or subdivision

the statistics break down like this

b

: to undergo decomposition

Synonyms

Noun

• crack-up
• nervous breakdown
• tailspin

Verb

• assort
• categorize
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartment
• compartmentalize
• digest
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

Choose the Right Synonym for breakdown

analyze, dissect, break down mean to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements.

analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

analyzed the collected data

dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

commentators dissected every word of the speech

break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

break down the budget

Examples of breakdown in a Sentence

Noun

The factory has had frequent equipment breakdowns.

Both sides are to blame for the breakdown in communication.

The irretrievable breakdown of a marriage can be grounds for divorce.

trying to prevent a breakdown of the health-care system

trying to prevent breakdown of the health-care system

He suffered a breakdown after his wife died.

Verb

when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region

the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here’s a breakdown of the top quarterbacks available, including Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels Editor’s note: The U-T’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL Draft (April 25-27). —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

Among the concerns spelled out are a lack of disaster preparation, insufficient rescue personnel and gear, and communication breakdowns. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

The report also describes a breakdown in communication between police, firefighters and emergency officials after cell networks went down. —Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024

As far as the age breakdown of coffee drinkers, the largest increase was experienced by those 60 and older, whose past-day consumption jumped 9 percent, from 67 percent to 73 percent. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2024

Here’s the breakdown of the situation: The Marlins had a runner on first base and two outs in the eighth inning when Schumaker sent pinch-hitter Nick Gordon to face right-handed pitcher Ryan Walker. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024

Fitbit also requires a Premium subscription ($9.99 per month or $79.99 per year) for certain metrics, including a breakdown of your sleep stages. —PCMAG, 10 Apr. 2024

Turning compost introduces oxygen to the mixture, allowing for aerobic breakdown that results mostly in carbon dioxide production. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

The breakdown of recent April 8 cloud-cover observations looks like this: Fair — 5 days Partly cloudy — 3 days Mostly cloudy — 6 days Cloudy — 10 days No solar eclipse glasses? —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024

Verb

Taylor Swift is breaking down the meaning of some of her new songs. —Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024

Without the software platforms, TikTok, Instagram, etc., the whole social media thing breaks down. —Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024

Two nine-o decisions that can’t be broken down into straight political lines. —ABC News, 21 Apr. 2024

Each portion of the package — which was broken down into separate bills — received bipartisan support. —Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 20 Apr. 2024

If inhaled, the hemp products can break down into a highly toxic gas called Ketene, which can cause lung inflammation and lead to illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis, Poe said. —John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

Todd and Julie Chrisley's oral arguments are fast approaching, and their daughter Savannah Chrisley is breaking down her thoughts leading up to the fateful moment. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024

As data from a particular domain — text, music, video, images, code, etc. — is fed into the system, it gets broken down into its constituent parts, each of which gets assigned a unique numeric value. —Paul Sweeting, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

In landfills, where those same materials would be buried, they are broken down by anaerobic microorganisms, creating methane. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing breakdown

• breakdown lane
• breakdown truck
• nervous breakdown

Kids Definition

breakdown

1 of 2 noun

break·​down ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n 

1

a

: a failure to function properly

b

: a physical, mental, or nervous collapse

2

: decomposition

3

: division into categories : classification

break down

2 of 2 verb

ˈbrāk-ˈdau̇n

1

: to stop working properly

the car broke down on the highway

2

a

: to separate (as a chemical compound) into simpler substances : decompose

b

: to go through decomposition

3

: to separate or become separated into parts or groups

this report breaks down into three sections

4

a

: to become overwhelmed by strong emotion

broke down and cried

b

: to lose the strength to resist or fight

broke down and confessed

5

: to use force to push (something) to the ground

break down a door

Medical Definition

breakdown

1 of 3 noun

break·​down ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n 

: the action or result of breaking down: as

a

: a failure to function

b

: a physical, mental, or nervous collapse

c

: the process of decomposing

breakdown of food during digestion

breakdown

2 of 3 adjective

: obtained or resulting from disintegration or decomposition of a substance

a breakdown product of purine

break down

3 of 3 transitive verb

(ˈ)brāk-ˈdau̇n 

: to separate (as a chemical compound) into simpler substances : decompose

intransitive verb

1

a

: to stop functioning because of breakage or wear

b

: to fail in strength or vitality

c

: to succumb to mental or emotional stress

2

of horses : to severely injure the supporting ligament or bones of the fetlock joint

3

: to undergo decomposition