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to break

to break

1.0
To stop an activity or end a habit
  • verb
  • /breɪk/
translation icon : romper
  • First, teachers might state clear expectations and break complex learning tasks into manageable parts.
  • break the cycle
  • break diplomatic ties
  • break a promise

How, how can you break the control that they have?

Examples

  • How can people step in and break that cycle process?

  • And Drew, trying to do the right thing, went to try to break the fight up.

    Academic text (2015)
  • So I think we want to break it like this.

  • You cannot, you cannot break America from the outside.

  • So I want to break this into two.

  • Why did you guys break up?

  • You have to unlearn, you have to break the habit of being yourself.

  • He decided to break his bad habits to lead a healthier life.

  • To improve productivity, the team agreed to break their routine and try new strategies.

  • The constant arguments led them to break their friendship after many years.

Synonyms

to stop
vsto break
1.0

To make something end and not continue

is broader covering temporary interruptions as well as final endings
to give up
vsto break
1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

is more neutral including voluntary endings without admitting failure
to interrupt
vsto break
909 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

is broader also including complete endings and long term cessation
to quit
vsto break
668 1.0

To stop doing a habit or activity like smoking

is broader also including short interruptions and temporary pauses
to violate
vsto break
627 4.4

Break a law, rule, agreement, or promise

is about stopping or interrupting actions not disobeying rules or laws
to cut off
vsto break
620 3.8

To stop something suddenly before it is finished

is broader covering both sudden interruptions and planned endings
to split
vsto break
575 2.3

End a relationship or go separate ways

is broader covering stopping many actions beyond separation or division
to take a break
vsto break
496 1.4

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

is broader including permanent endings as well as temporary pauses
to separate
vsto break
481 2.9

To move apart or stop being together

is broader applying to endings of actions states and habits too
to break up with
vsto break
  • Informal
417 3.4

To end a romantic relationship with someone

is broader applying to many activity types beyond romantic relationships
to pause
vsto break
346 1.0

Stop for a short time before continuing

is broader also applying to permanent endings or full cessation
to cease
vsto break
324 3.6

To stop or come to an end

is similar but also covers brief interruptions as well as final endings
to part
vsto break
241 2.9

To separate and move in different directions after being together

is broader covering stopping activities as well as physical separation
to cut it
vsto break
  • Informal
216 7.2

Stop doing something annoying when someone tells you

is general and neutral used for many types of ending or interruption
to go against
vsto break
206 3.3

To act against a rule, law, or popular opinion

is different it focuses on ending or interrupting not opposing rules
to break down
vsto break
194 3.2

To stop working because of a problem

is broader including deliberate endings and voluntary interruptions
to terminate
vsto break
147 4.6

To make something stop or finish

is similar but covers informal interruptions and short pauses too
to split up
vsto break
  • Informal
137 2.7

To end a close relationship and go separate ways

is used for many activity types not only personal relationship endings
to lay off
vsto break
  • Informal
102 3.4

Stop doing something that annoys someone

is broader applying to any ending of actions or relationships
to discontinue
vsto break
58 4.2

To stop something that is happening or being given

is more general covering interruptions or endings across many contexts
to break off
vsto break
50 3.2

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

is broader covering gradual endings and temporary pauses as well
to breach
vsto break
  • Formal
46 4.5

To break a rule, agreement, or promise

is about ending actions or states rather than violating obligations
to break with
vsto break
23 4.1

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

is broader including informal or temporary interruptions as well
to come to a halt
vsto break
  • Informal
13 3.4

Stop moving or working completely

is about ending any activity not only movement or motion
to transgress
vsto break
12 7.8

To do something that breaks a law, rule, or your idea of right and wrong

is about ending or interrupting activities rather than exceeding moral limits
to break up
vsto break
11 3.3

Interrupt an activity so it stops for a short time

is more general and also includes permanent endings not only pauses
to break away
vsto break
11 3.9

To stop doing something usual to try something new

is broader covering any interruption or final ending across contexts
11 4.3

To slow down an activity or stop it

is broader including complete endings and abrupt interruptions as well
to hit pause
vsto break
  • Informal
2 4.3

Temporarily stop an activity to rest or think

is more general covering both brief pauses and complete endings
to put a full stop
vsto break
  • UK
1 3.6

End something completely so it does not continue

is broader also including short interruptions and temporary pauses
to break short
vsto break
5.4

To stop something before it finishes

is broader including both planned endings and natural completion

Antonyms

1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

297 3.1

To start an activity again after a pause

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 Complete

to end
1.0
stop
310 1.0
to break
1.0
to suspend
141 3.9
to interrupt
909 2.5
to pause
346 1.0

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 interrupt'. That's why to break something can mean to stop or interrupt an activity or state.