1
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
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2
as in to stop
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
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3
as in to divide
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
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4
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
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5
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
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6
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
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7
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
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as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of break up
David Hill, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Wings didn’t play another show and broke up the following year.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Deal stuffed the stat sheet with two tackles, a pass breakup, four quarterback hits and a half-sack, and made plays at critical moments for the Horned Frogs.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
In the end, the band didn’t break up out of acrimony.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Wings didn’t play another show and broke up the following year.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
Jones, in four games this season, produced nine tackles, a pass breakup and a sack.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025
Deal stuffed the stat sheet with two tackles, a pass breakup, four quarterback hits and a half-sack, and made plays at critical moments for the Horned Frogs.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
-
Soon after the May 2024 text exchange, the group chat disbanded.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The Indiana 50501 protest group disbanded due to internal infighting.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wearing a floor-length brown double-breasted coat featuring buttons that stopped at her waist, the attire created a sultry thigh-high slit that allowed Jolie's leg to peek through.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Studies in animals and reports from people show that the side effects of this drug can continue even after someone stops taking it.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Senate Republicans are trying to divide Democrats on Thursday with a vote that would pay government workers deemed essential who are working without pay during the shutdown.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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In the trailer, Whitney drops the bomb that she is set to start her own MomTok, as the group continues to be divided.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Uchis never expected to crack the bilingual code this effectively.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
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That would track with current projections, which have four movies expected to crack double digits in total nominations on Oscar morning.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, during the shutdown, VA benefits regional offices are closed, transition program assistance has ceased and VA cemetery grounds are not being maintained.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Past this point, plant growth will begin to cease, resulting in the same state in their crops as if a hard freeze has happened.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He was also accused of disrupting a second informational table hosted by a student group, according to Illinois State University Police.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Kathryn Palmer The shutdown unfortunately disrupted my weekend plans to check out the FDR Presidential Library in upstate New York, but the gorgeous fall weather in the area was a welcome consolation.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Years later, my mother laughed at this attitude of mine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Victoria asks her husband, laughing.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For any buyer that just wants WBD's studio and streaming assets, acquiring them after a split later this year is better for tax purposes.—
Sara Salinas,Luke Fountain,Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
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Today’s statement from WBD revealed a nuance in terms of the split.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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