1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition
the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to analyze
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships
if we break the problem down into what appear to be three aspects of it, we'll have a better chance of solving it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
began to break down when he realized that he was on the verge of bankruptcy
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to take down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to shatter
to cause to break with violence and much noise
firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in nervous breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
if you don't ease your workload, you're going to have a breakdown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the breakdown of the body was arrested by the embalming process
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in analysis
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole
the boss wanted a detailed breakdown of the sales figures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of break down
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
How the Slow-Carb Diet Works Your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar (glucose), which gives you energy.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 1 Sep. 2025
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Here’s a breakdown of what North Carolina law actually says about rest and meal periods, and what that means for you on the clock.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Verb
Heated air dries the clothes and breaks down the ozone, with sensors and filters ensuring no harmful gases or droplets are released.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
How the Slow-Carb Diet Works Your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar (glucose), which gives you energy.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
Here is a breakdown of the poll results.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Here’s a breakdown of what North Carolina law actually says about rest and meal periods, and what that means for you on the clock.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
-
The star, classified as IRAS 04302+2247, or IRAS 04302, is a protostar, with its disk measuring at around 40 billion miles (65 billion km) wide.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
It was classified as a heritage site in 1995 and then as a national monument in 1997.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The farm worked with Ducks Unlimited for a different conservation easement applicable to its rice fields, and was an early adopter of post-harvest flood practices to decompose rice straw left over from harvest.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While strontium aluminate can readily decompose in plants, posing harm to plant tissue, Liu said, the scientists developed a chemical coating for the material that acts as a protective barrier.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This is the first year the county can analyze and present in-depth data on the program, according to a presentation by the DHHS.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Visual arts experts will analyze them to determine if they are related to paintings stolen during World War II, police said.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The fact that babies and toddlers continue to die from ingesting fentanyl will likely come up in a meeting next month.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Finally, place the eggs in an ice bath to completely cool before cracking, peeling and eating.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, that has been mentioned as one of the reasons why the show’s second season, unlike the first one, didn’t crack the Top 10 in the US, UK, or globally in its first week.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
More than a year after the 43-year-old shopping center closed, the vast majority now owned by the village of West Dundee has been taken down at a cost of about $4 million.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The Los Angeles Chargers started the 2025 NFL season as winners, taking down the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-21, on Friday night in Brazil.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His staff acknowledged congratulatory comments on social media and posted photos of an encounter with someone whose car window was shattered after refusing to open it.—
Elliot Spagat,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Jorma Taccone, one part of the comedy trio The Lonely Island, was hospitalized after shattering his pelvis upon falling 20 feet off a ladder at his home.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Originally published in 1961, the novel follows Josephine, a young woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Then there was Spark’s nervous breakdown in January 1954.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share