Skip to main content
break

break

1.0
A short rest from work or activity
  • noun
  • /breɪk/
translation icon : descanso
  • Let's take a short break before we continue with the project.
  • take a break
  • a coffee break
  • a lunch break

So let's take a quick break more on the way.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Before we take a break, does anyone have a burning desire?

  • What about when she goes on break?

  • But first, a quick break for a word from our partners.

  • We'll take a short break and be right back.

  • They give us a summer break for a reason, right?

  • The students encircled this jovial man, glad for this break in the daily routine.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Let's take a break.

  • Once finished at the Nan'ao, Cui says he might take a break from excavation.

    Academic text (2011)
  • During our lunch break, we usually go for a walk.

  • After a long meeting, everyone appreciated the brief break to relax.

Synonyms

rest
vsbreak
703 1.0

A period when you stop activity to relax or sleep

is usually a shorter, casual pause rather than an extended recovery time
breath
vsbreak
224 1.0

A short rest or pause between activities

is a general short pause that can be longer or less immediate
pause
vsbreak
192 1.0

A short stop in speaking or activity

is mainly about resting or taking time off rather than just stopping
recess
vsbreak
153 1.2

A short break during work, school, or a meeting

is the everyday short pause used across workplaces and informal situations
interruption
vsbreak
99 3.0

A short time when something stops or is delayed

is the usual short restful pause, not an unplanned stoppage or delay
time out
vsbreak
46 2.3

A short break from an activity to rest or talk about what to do next

is the common neutral pause for ordinary interruptions at work
intermission
vsbreak
38 3.9

A short break during a performance or meeting when people can rest

is the broader short pause used in many settings beyond shows or events
hiatus
vsbreak
34 6.3

A pause in an activity or series that is usually temporary

is normally a short everyday pause, not a possibly long gap in time
breather
vsbreak
  • Informal
31 3.4

A short rest to recover energy

is the neutral short pause used in many work or daily situations
respite
vsbreak
25 7.2

A short break from something difficult or unpleasant

is a more general short rest, not only for hard or unpleasant situations
coffee break
vsbreak
20 1.0

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

is the general short pause for any brief rest or activity
bathroom break
vsbreak
  • US
13 1.2

A short pause to use the toilet

is the general short pause used for rest, not specifically toilet use
rest period
vsbreak
3 2.5

A short time to relax and get energy back

is the everyday short pause used informally or without formal scheduling
tea break
vsbreak
  • UK
1 1.3

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

is the general short pause for any brief rest or casual activity
quick breather
vsbreak
  • Informal
1 3.0

A short break to breathe and rest

is the general short pause that may be slower and less hurried
bio-break
vsbreak
  • Informal
1 8.6

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

is the neutral short pause for many reasons, not only bodily needs
physical break
vsbreak
2.5

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

is a general pause used for rest or other nonphysical reasons
comfort break
vsbreak
  • UK
3.7

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

is a broader short pause for many purposes beyond such personal needs

Antonyms

1.0

Effort people use to do a job or task

52 4.7

A situation where things stay the same or keep happening without big changes

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

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 Long

holiday
  • UK
627 1.0
rest
703 1.0
break
1.0
respite
25 7.2
pause
192 1.0
breather
  • Informal
31 3.4

Surface Forms

break singular
breaks plural

Etymology

Break comes from an old English word brecan meaning 'to split'. A 'break' is a short time that 'splits' your work, so you stop and rest.