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break
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- pronunciation:
- breIk
- parts of speech:
- verb, noun
- phrases:
- break down, break in
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Homophone Note, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
breaks, breaking, broke, broken |
| definition 1: |
to cause to come apart into pieces; smash.
She broke the nutshell with a hammer.
- synonyms:
- shatter, smash, snap
- similar words:
- burst, clip, crash, crush, fracture, grind, mangle, mash, mince, rupture, splinter, split, tear
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| definition 2: |
to damage or make no longer usable.
She fell and broke her arm.We have no music because you broke the radio.- synonyms:
- destroy, ruin, shatter, wreck
- antonyms:
- mend
- similar words:
- annihilate, blast, bust, crack, crash, damage, mangle, total
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| definition 3: |
to tame or overcome the strength of by using force.
It took him two weeks to break the wild horse.- synonyms:
- crush, defeat, overcome
- similar words:
- annihilate, batter, dash, demolish, frustrate, overpower, overwhelm, put down, stamp out, subdue, tame
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| definition 4: |
to bring an end to; interrupt.
Brenda broke her smoking habit.One brave student broke the silence.- synonyms:
- interrupt
- similar words:
- change, discontinue, disrupt, violate
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| definition 5: |
to make known.
Who will break the bad news to her?- synonyms:
- disclose, expose, reveal, uncover
- similar words:
- bare, betray
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| definition 6: |
to fail to obey or be faithful to.
They broke the law.He never breaks a promise.- synonyms:
- breach, defy, disobey, violate
- antonyms:
- keep, observe
- similar words:
- disregard, neglect, oppose, shirk
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| definition 7: |
to soften the effect of.
The bushes broke his fall.- synonyms:
- cushion, soften
- similar words:
- check, lessen
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| definition 8: |
to go beyond.
She may break the world record.- synonyms:
- better, exceed, outdo, surpass, top
- similar words:
- beat, cap, eclipse, overcome
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| definition 9: |
to come apart into pieces; shatter.
His favorite cup broke into pieces.- synonyms:
- crack, shatter, smash, snap
- similar words:
- clip, crash, disintegrate, fracture, splinter, split, tear
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| definition 10: |
to become ruined or no longer usable.
My watch broke.- synonyms:
- collapse
- similar words:
- bust, crack, fail
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| definition 11: |
to burst or collapse.
Water pipes can break when the temperature drops below freezing.- synonyms:
- burst, collapse, split
- similar words:
- crash, explode, give
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| definition 12: |
to stop or disappear suddenly.
The fever has finally broken.- synonyms:
- cease, halt, stop
- similar words:
- disappear, end, vanish
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| definition 13: |
to become known to the public.
The story broke, and he is now a celebrity.- similar words:
- emerge, transpire, unfold
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| definition 14: |
to move away suddenly and rapidly.
Seeing the rabbit, the dog broke from its owner.- synonyms:
- flee
- similar words:
- dash, escape, fly, move, run
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| related words: |
burst, chip, die, give away, give way, kill, part, pause, section, separate, snap |
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| phrase: |
break down, break in |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act or result of breaking or coming apart into pieces.
The break in her leg healed in three weeks.- synonyms:
- smash
- similar words:
- chip, crack, cut, flaw, leak, rupture, slit, snap, splinter, split, tear
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| definition 2: |
a sudden, fast movement away; escape.
The robber made a break for the rear of the bank.- synonyms:
- escape, flight
- similar words:
- run
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| definition 3: |
a period of time when something stops; interruption.
We took a break from our work to eat dinner.- synonyms:
- interruption, pause
- similar words:
- gap, halt, intermission, interval, recess, rest, stop
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| definition 4: |
a lucky chance; opportunity.
Getting a part in the film was a big break for her.- synonyms:
- chance, opportunity
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| definition 5: |
a sudden change.
We hoped for a break in the hot, humid weather.- similar words:
- change
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| related words: |
breach, cleft, collapse, lull, vacation |
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| derivation: |
breakable (adj.) |
Are you looking for the word brake (a stopping device)? Break and brake sound alike but have different meanings.
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