breaks 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of break
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as in reduces
to bring to a lower grade or rank the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander

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4
as in deciphers
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis

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as in plows
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows

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as in dies
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in bankrupts
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts another bad investment could break him

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as in surfaces
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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breaks

2 of 2

noun

plural of break
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2
as in vacations
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break

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as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place in classic fashion, her big break came when, as an understudy, she took over for an ailing star

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as in accidents
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life

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6

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 breaks
Verb
In the end, McGinniss’s new team breaks his heart, as all your rooting interests in sports eventually will. Leander Schaerlaeckens june 8, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026 Franklin breaks score open with three runs in fourth. Darren Sabedra, Mercury News, 7 June 2026 So, instead of scrambling to compare quotes or second-guess repair recommendations, homeowners have a more predictable process when something breaks. Kathy Collins, Fortune, 6 June 2026 Back in markets, Bitcoin is bruised – on pace for its worst week since February amid a record streak of bitcoin ETF outflows as the crypto market breaks from its dominant narratives. Katie Foley, CNBC, 5 June 2026 My heart breaks a little bit because Adam and I have become really close. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 The tool breaks cases down by age, race and neighborhood, revealing that seniors, Black residents and inland valley communities bear disproportionate heat burdens tied to poverty, outdoor work and lack of cooling. Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 The series serves as an origin story for how Norrin Radd (voiced by Paul Essiembre) becomes the herald of Galactus (James Blendick), then breaks free from the clutches of the Devourer of Worlds to surf around the galaxy and help others. Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 June 2026 Now, Stratton breaks his silence to provide a startling first-hand account of the discoveries, encounters, challenges, and behind-the-scenes revelations that profoundly altered his understanding of humanity’s place in the universe and took a disturbing toll on him and his family. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 June 2026
Noun
Add in concerns about heat, commercialization—my son is among those grumbling about water breaks during games, even when temperatures are mild—and the sheer size of the tournament, and there appears to be no shortage of reasons to complain. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 The crews are working to create a network of vegetation-free pathways, called fuel breaks, that can slow fires and give firefighters strategic access to wildlands to combat blazes. Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 As for the players, FIFA this year has implemented mandatory, three-minute hydration breaks at the midpoint of each half — regardless of temperature conditions. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026 The governing body of international soccer has introduced a pair of three-minute breaks that will arrive at about the midway point of each 45-minute half. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026 Rather than being an occasional response to weather conditions, water breaks will now be built into every match as a permanent structural feature. Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026 During the two three-minute hydration breaks against New Zealand, England’s players placed ice packs around their necks to help regulate their body temperature. Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 June 2026 Madison Heights, Michigan, city employees are working to repair six water main breaks that happened on Friday night, officials said. Nick Lentz, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks
Verb
  • Cypermethrin disrupts thyroid hormones, which are critical to brain development.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • Eating quickly disrupts this process, leaving more carbohydrates to be broken down in the stomach and gut, which can lead to blood sugar spikes.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Your success stops feeling hollow.
    Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
  • There is no single treatment that stops the allergic march in its tracks, but there are ways to slow its progress.
    Dr. Daniel DiGiacomo, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • The future demands a neutral, interoperable and intelligent global trade infrastructure that reduces friction, expands inclusion and restores trust across borders.
    Meelan Gupta, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • Unplugging protects against power surges and reduces fire hazards.
    Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Qualcomm’s chip can run Linux, along with Arduino software, and can even do computer vision, which deciphers what a camera sees and translates it into software.
    Kif Leswing, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
  • With that base knowledge and his opponent’s game tape, Nolan analyzes wide receiver alignments and deciphers the offense's attack.
    Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Before ascending, Turull pauses at an enormous seashell — a real one, not made of stone — that serves as a basin for holy water.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 June 2026
  • Queen Anne's County pauses data center development During the 12-month pause, the county will research and evaluate potential impacts that data centers could have on local infrastructure, land use, utilities and environmental resources.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The conservative Pacific Research Institute plows the same economic ground in a report.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Each April, Earth plows through its dusty trail — tiny grains burning up in the atmosphere at around 30 miles per second.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The question facing the justices is whether that requirement for advance permission violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 9 June 2026
  • The Cook County Chief Judge's office is in charge of the program, but no one from their office spoke at the meeting; and no one from the Cook County Sheriff's office, which executes arrest warrants when someone violates terms of their monitoring, attended the meeting.
    Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Thomas said that Pro solves a unique issue that institutional traders face in the prediction market space.
    Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 8 June 2026
  • The brain solves problems differently when it’s not being forced to.
    William Jones June 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Breaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

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