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
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Recent Examples of break up
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Shannon tells us that her daughter, Sophie, was really into a boy who broke up with her, but that meant Sophie made a surprise trip home to see her mom and stops by this very party where the women support her with their own terrible breakup stories.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
Two targets on that last drive, two breakups.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
The Fiskars Ergo Garden Trowel will help you repot and break up soil, and this harvesting basket, also from Fiskars, is perfect for holding onto your last-chance harvests.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Shannon tells us that her daughter, Sophie, was really into a boy who broke up with her, but that meant Sophie made a surprise trip home to see her mom and stops by this very party where the women support her with their own terrible breakup stories.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
Short, after his breakup with Radner, dating and then marrying Nancy Dolman.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
Two targets on that last drive, two breakups.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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Officials signaled the district was next on the dissolution list after the County Board disbanded the Lake Bluff Mosquito Abatement District in 2021, leaving the South Lake entity the last of the breed.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
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So was Sigma Chi, but because its national leadership disbanded the KU chapter, the fraternity will have to start recruiting from scratch.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Fall weather isn't stopping the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as its crews are set to begin a number of construction work across the state.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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But if your peonies are flowering less over time or nearby plants are encroaching on their growing space, dividing them in fall is one simple solution.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Sep. 2025
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Every Democrat in the chamber supported the legislation while Republicans were evenly divided.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Finally, place the eggs in an ice bath to completely cool before cracking, peeling and eating.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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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
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At the end of 2024, SHR ceased operations, paving the way for the rise of the Haas Factory Team.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
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In turn, matchups between strong Group of 5 teams and hefty pocketbooks will cease to exist.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Months after Milwaukee officials began talking about the issue, street takeovers continue to disrupt the city.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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That’s because the same technology that may be disrupting traditional jobs could accelerate entirely new industries from space tourism to planet colonization.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Every so often, there's a disconnect, of course, but instead of letting those bumps unravel their meaningful connection, Lexi laughs.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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He was then seen laughing while talking to those around him.—
Julia Andersen,
CNN Money,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Since their split, Fox has also welcomed a new addition.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The split will reverse a massive but largely unsuccessful 2015 merger arranged by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and the investment firm 3G Capital, Heinz and Kraft’s owners at the time.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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