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to break

to break

1.0
To change a large bill into smaller bills
  • verb
  • /breɪk/
translation icon : romper
  • The loud noise caused the glass to break and scatter everywhere.
  • break a bone
  • break a window
  • break molecular bonds

All right, let's hope no one breaks any bones or necks.

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Examples

  • I think your water just broke.

  • He steps on the watch and breaks the face of the watch.

  • And it's why things break when they fall.

  • Well, he got kicked off the horse and he broke an arm.

  • I think she broke my nose.

  • And when the machine breaks, that's the end.

  • Minutes after the collision, the ship broke apart and sank, pulling many down with it.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Research has shown that bone marrow injected into broken bones can speed the healing.

    Academic text (2012)
  • He accidentally dropped the vase, and it broke into several pieces.

  • When she fell off her bike, she broke her wrist and needed to go to the hospital.

Synonyms

to tear
vsto break
1.0

To pull something so it breaks into pieces

is broader including damage not caused by pulling actions
to bust
vsto break
  • Informal
553 4.0

To break something so it does not work

is more formal and covers neutral cases
to die
vsto break
498 4.6

To stop working, often suddenly

refers to physical separation or damage not only stopping operation
to fail
vsto break
370 2.2

Stop working properly, as a machine or part

implies physical destruction or pieces rather than mere malfunction
to crack
vsto break
311 1.0

To break or form a narrow split in a surface

can mean full separation rather than just surface lines
to smash
vsto break
311 2.1

To break something into many pieces using great force

often covers less violent or partial damage
to separate
vsto break
297 1.9

To break into parts or pieces

often involves damage or force rather than simple reordering
to wreck
vsto break
225 2.9

To badly damage or destroy something

can mean less total or repairable damage
to break down
vsto break
213 2.8

To separate something into smaller parts to explain or study it

is usually sudden destructive damage not careful disassembly
to snap
vsto break
167 2.3

Break suddenly and completely, often with a sharp noise

is more general and can be slower or quieter
to burst
vsto break
164 1.4

Break open suddenly because of pressure inside

usually involves external force rather than internal pressure
to fall apart
vsto break
155 2.8

To break into pieces or stop working properly

is more about sudden forceful damage not slow decay
to rupture
vsto break
95 6.8

To break open suddenly and violently

is broader covering forceful damage that may be less sudden
to fracture
vsto break
91 4.7

To break a hard object, for example a bone or rock

applies more generally not only to hard materials
to shatter
vsto break
72 2.8

To break suddenly into many small pieces, like glass

may involve larger fragments or less sudden damage
to break up
vsto break
66 2.7

Separate something into smaller pieces

often implies division rather than violent damage
to give out
vsto break
57 4.1

To stop working or run out so nothing is left

is about making physical pieces rather than running out or stopping
to split up
vsto break
47 2.6

To divide something into smaller parts

is more about physical destruction rather than mere division
to come apart
vsto break
44 3.1

To break into pieces or fall into separate parts

often refers to active damage rather than gradual separation
to fragment
vsto break
39 3.7

To break into small pieces or make something break apart

is broader covering damage that may not create separate parts
to give way
vsto break
35 4.2

Break or fail because of pressure

is broader covering deliberate damage as well as collapse
to bust up
vsto break
  • Informal
34 5.8

To break something into pieces by hitting it hard

is the general word for damage without informal tone
to go bad
vsto break
  • US
33 3.5

Stop working and need repair

is about physical damage or destruction rather than simple malfunction
to break off
vsto break
28 2.8

To make a piece come away from something by hitting or bending it

is broader covering full destruction as well as detachment
to break apart
vsto break
26 3.0

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

focuses on physical force more than metaphorical separation
to splinter
vsto break
21 3.9

To break into many small, sharp pieces like wood or glass

means general separation not limited to small sharp pieces
to break open
vsto break
13 2.1

To open something suddenly by force, for example a locked door or jar

may include slower splitting or non opening damage
to snap off
vsto break
9 3.5

To break a piece from something with a quick, sharp movement

is broader applying to many types of forceful damage
to conk out
vsto break
  • Informal
7 8.1

To stop working suddenly or to fall asleep because of tiredness

is more about physical pieces separating than mere stoppage
to smash up
vsto break
  • Informal
5 4.7

To damage something very badly so it breaks into pieces

is broader including milder forms of damage
to break away
vsto break
2 3.5

To come off a larger thing, often because of force or damage

generally covers many forms of damage not only detachment
to break in
vsto break
1 3.5

To force open a door or window to get inside

applies to general destruction not only forced entry
to frag
vsto break
  • Slang
1 9.1

To break something into pieces

is the neutral standard term rather than slang
to fragmentize
vsto break
8.2

To break something into many small pieces

is more general and can mean damage without fragmenting
to whack up
vsto break
  • UK
8.3

To divide something into parts, for example by cutting it or by sharing it among people

is a neutral term for forceful damage without roughness emphasis

Antonyms

365 1.0

To fix something that is broken or not working

225 3.1

Keep something in good condition by repairing and protecting it

Idioms

to make or break
  • Informal
26 4.5

Decide whether something is a complete success or failure

give me a break
  • Informal
22 7.9

Ask someone to stop criticizing or asking too much of you

to break a sweat
  • Informal
20 4.1

To start sweating from hard work or to need to try hard

to break a leg
  • Informal
15 6.3

To wish someone good luck before a performance

To cost a lot of money

To make a sound or speak after a time of silence

To do something in a new way instead of the usual way

To stop poverty passing from parents to children

To overcome barriers that stop women or minority groups getting higher jobs

1 7.9

A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts

1 5.4

Cause a huge rise in online attention and internet traffic

6.0

To work very hard at something until you are very tired

Have a first success after trying and failing

9.9

To fight strongly for a good cause in a brave, fair way

to break the buck
  • Literature
9.8

A money market fund's share price falls below one dollar

To do new or difficult things on purpose to learn and grow

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

A phrase that says hurt to the body is worse than insults and words do not hurt

To look at the sky as the sun comes up

Phrasal Verbs

to break up
  • Informal
678 2.6

End a relationship with someone, for example a romantic or business partner

496 1.4

To stop doing something for a short time to rest or relax before continuing

to break up with
  • Informal
417 3.4

To end a romantic relationship with someone

213 2.8

To separate something into smaller parts to explain or study it

194 3.2

To stop working because of a problem

152 3.4

Make a group of people leave or spread out

140 3.8

To start suddenly, often with something dangerous like a fire or disease

111 3.9

To lose control of your feelings and cry or collapse

73 3.9

To enter a building or computer system without permission, often by force

66 2.7

Separate something into smaller pieces

to need a break
  • Informal
62 2.1

Want time to rest because you feel tired or stressed

51 3.6

To get free quickly from a place or situation, often from captivity

50 4.0

Suddenly start making a sound, like singing, laughing or crying

50 3.2

To stop something suddenly before it is finished, for example a talk or relationship

To overcome a difficulty after many tries and succeed

To move suddenly through a barrier, as light or a person

to break up
  • Informal
38 5.0

Become unable to cope because of strong stress or emotion

37 3.5

To remove barriers that stop people from doing something

to break down
  • Specialized
36 3.7

To make something separate into smaller parts by a chemical process

34 3.4

To make someone very sad because of love or disappointment

30 4.1

To leave an organization and form a separate group

30 3.4

To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited

29 3.4

To make someone or something comfortable in a new situation

29 4.0

To take something out of storage to use it

28 2.8

To make a piece come away from something by hitting or bending it

27 3.3

Earn enough to cover all costs with no profit or loss

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

Start work on a new building or important project

24 4.0

To develop spots or a rash on the skin

Begin suddenly in a violent or noisy way

23 4.1

End a relationship with someone or something in a clear, final way

to break the story
  • Literature
21 3.5

Be the first to tell people about a news event

To fail to do what you said you would do

Do better than anyone before in a sport or activity

To stop a repeated harmful pattern by choosing to change

14 3.3

Suddenly start doing something, like running or dancing

to break bread
  • Informal
14 3.9

To eat a meal together to show friendship or build community

13 2.1

To open something suddenly by force, for example a locked door or jar

To escape limits or control and become independent

11 3.3

Interrupt an activity so it stops for a short time

11 3.4

To start working in a new job or field, often for the first time

11 3.9

To stop doing something usual to try something new

to break up
  • Informal
9 3.0

Start laughing very hard and cannot stop

Open a closed container or use it for the first time

To force yourself free from a place or person

To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group

Pack your things and leave a camp at the end of your stay

4 3.5

To introduce a new product or service to people

To let gas out of your bottom

To suddenly start running, often after walking or standing still

To come out of hiding into the open

To make progress when people cannot agree

To speak directly to the audience during a play or film to show the story is not real

To come off a larger thing, often because of force or damage

To finish the hardest part of a job to make the rest easier

To start suddenly and strongly, like an argument or a strong feeling

1 3.5

To force open a door or window to get inside

to break bad
  • Informal
1 8.9

Start doing illegal or wrong things after living an honest life

1 5.0

To not keep a serious promise you made, often in a formal situation

To perform a street dance with quick acrobatic moves to hip-hop music

To remove communication barriers between teams so they can work together

To tell someone bad news gently

Take part in activities usually not allowed on the Sabbath, like working or traveling

to break reality
  • Literature
8.5

To make people doubt what is real using art or media

To stop something before it finishes

9.9

Threaten to hit a person's face and hurt them

To get out of the same boring routine

Compounds

tax break
  • Specialized
98 3.0

A smaller tax people or companies must pay to encourage certain activities

83 3.9

An illegal entry into a building to steal or damage things

81 2.0

A short vacation from school in spring, usually one week

big break
  • Informal
38 3.2

An important chance that helps a person become successful in their career

20 1.0

A short break from work to drink coffee or eat a small snack

tough break
  • Informal
19 5.8

An unlucky event that makes things harder for someone

lucky break
  • Informal
13 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

13 1.2

A short pause to use the toilet

clean break
  • Informal
12 3.9

A complete ending of a relationship or old life to start fresh

10 1.0

A holiday when schools and universities close for winter

fast break
  • Jargon
9 3.5

A quick attack where a team moves fast down the court to score before the defense sets up

4 1.0

The first light of morning when the sun rises

A solo street dance with fast acrobatic moves on the ground to hip-hop music

1 3.6

A solo street dance with quick acrobatic moves often done to hip-hop music

1 1.3

A short informal break at work to drink tea or another drink

1 4.5

Illegal access to a computer system to steal or damage data

bio-break
  • Informal
1 8.6

A short break to use the toilet or take care of personal needs

The first light of morning when the sun begins to appear

5.1

A game one player wins while the opponent is serving

break seal
  • Specialized
6.1

A seal that breaks when a package is opened to show if someone opened it

9.9

A tree from the West Indies with very hard wood used for building

4.1

A piece that has come away from a larger object, often suddenly

3.9

A short pause in an activity

4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

3.7

A short pause to use the toilet or have a brief rest

A short pause from work to move, stretch, or rest

service break
  • Jargon
5.1

A game the player who is not serving wins in tennis

How Damaged

to destroy
1.0
to shatter
72 2.8
to break
1.0
to crack
311 1.0
to chip
104 2.3
dent
46 1.0
to scratch
161 1.1

Surface Forms

break infinitive
breaking present participle
breaks third person singular
broke past
broken past participle

Etymology

Break comes from an old English word brecan meaning 'to split' or 'to shatter'. So to break something is to make it come apart or stop working.