break 1 of 6

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as in to reduce
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 to decipher
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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5
as in to pause
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime

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6
as in to plow
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 to die
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in to ruin
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 to exceed
to go beyond the limit of a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners

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19
as in to surface
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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break

2 of 6

noun

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2
as in vacation
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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4
as in opportunity
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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5
as in accident
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

broke

3 of 6

adjective (1)

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broke

5 of 6

verb (2)

past tense of break
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as in demoted
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 deciphered
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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5
6
as in plowed
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 died
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in ruined
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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19
as in surfaced
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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broken

6 of 6

verb (3)

past participle of break
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2
3
as in degraded
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 cracked
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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5
6
as in raked
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 stalled
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in bankrupted
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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19
as in emerged
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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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
Verb
Jennifer Jolly Special to USA Today The internet didn’t wait long to break OpenAI’s newest toy. Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 And video game spinoffs of the Italian Brainrot cinematic universe have broken all sorts of records on Roblox and Fortnite. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
This includes directing users to professional help, strengthening safeguards on sensitive topics, and encouraging breaks during long sessions. Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025 What issue will have preoccupied both managers during the break? Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Reunion shows often have a vital, go-for-broke spirit, and this movie does too, in the sweetest possible way. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Sep. 2025 So to invest in a broke company is beyond me. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Ivey, who missed most of last season with a broken fibula, will be out for a few weeks to start the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee. Christian Romo, Freep.com, 22 Oct. 2025 The shakeup, along with bad weather, plummeting attendance, broken rides, and a rise in competition have added to the company’s struggles amid shares falling more than 45 percent in 2025. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Looking at the box score, Chase broke his own franchise record for the most receptions in a single game, hauling in 16 of his 23 targets from Flacco for 161 yards and his touchdown. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Consider the open-air Lincoln Road, the pedestrian plaza in Miami Beach that recently broke ground on a multimillion restoration plan. Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
The urgent care physician assistant took X-rays and nothing was broken. Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025 Our school funding system is broken. Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for break
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break
Noun
  • Lawrence also took another two-year pause after the release of raunchy comedy No Hard Feelings (2023) before taking on a new project, Die My Love.
    Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • While earnings season has helped fill the information void, this pause in government data comes at a uniquely unfortunate time, given questions about the health of the labor market and inflationary pressures during the trade war.
    Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That left the vacation-friends spatter-fest Speak No Evil to provide Blumhouse’s only positive cash flow for the year.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
  • At the beginning of August, the Jonas Brothers singer shared a series of photos on his Instagram from his beach vacation with Chopra Jonas and Malti.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Nopales, like cruciferous vegetables such as kale, collards, and arugula, are rich in calcium and can help fill this nutrient gap.
    Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That's an enormous gap, but what other team has a better claim as the league's 11th-best?
    Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But if you too have been mesmerized by the Belle Époque aesthetics of recent video games like Lies of P and Clair Obscur, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to put on a red beret and parry with the best of them.
    James Factora, Them., 17 Oct. 2025
  • Arteta will need to use this as an opportunity to get more from other players in the squad.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In the film, a tragic accident sends Kenna (Monroe) to prison and causes the death of her boyfriend Scotty (Outer Banks star Rudy Pankow).
    Benjamin VanHoose, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The Pitch Perfect star recently looked back on how a brutal cement truck accident abruptly altered his plans for the future, and how going through puberty shortly thereafter altered them yet again.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The plane's inflatable escape slide was deployed, and the nose and tail sections of the plane separated.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Culture Minister Rachida Dati later told TF1 that the gang broke into the Galerie d’Apollon — a sumptuous room on the first floor of the Petite Galerie that has housed the French crown jewels since 1887 — and that a piece of jewelry was recovered during the escape.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • However, an early burst of winter storms was expected, with a lull of snow in the mid-winter season, then a resurgence in the late months of winter.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
  • For instance, why did the offense experience so many extended lulls against opposing bullpens (even as, in another contradiction, its overall performance against bullpens was in line with 2024)?
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Act fast to treat yourself to something special or score early holiday gift picks from high-end brands while these markdowns start at just $26.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The boutique will include handmade must haves, one-of-a-kind treasures and great gift ideas, as well as quilts for all ages, holiday items, children’s toys, lovely home décor, planters and unique household goods to name a few.
    Dawn Giangiulio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Break.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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