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break

break

78 4.4
A sudden escape from a place or control
  • noun
  • /breɪk/
: fuga
  • After weeks of planning, they finally executed a successful break from the facility.

Examples

  • Let's make a break for it.

  • So listen, Frank... ...when you decide to make your break, and I know you will... ...you come talk to me.

  • Unless I make a break for it with this thing.

  • Shampoo running into his eyes, he makes a break for the office.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Maybe, maybe we take a couple of the hostages, stage the distraction at the front, make a break through the back.

  • As the two of them struggle, Gideon makes a break for it, stumbling across the lawn.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The prisoners made a daring break from their cells under the cover of darkness.

  • During the storm, there was a break in the barricade, allowing the animals to escape.

Synonyms

escape
vsbreak
376 1.1

An act of getting away from a place where you are kept or are in danger

is usually sudden movement from confinement or control rather than gradual leaving
breakout
vsbreak
16 7.1

An escape from prison or jail that happens suddenly and often uses force

is a sudden movement from control or confinement in many settings
prison-breaking
vsbreak
13 9.1

An escape from prison done by force or secret planning

is about sudden movement from control rather than method or place
jailbreak
vsbreak
9 7.3

A planned or forced escape from prison

is about sudden action from control rather than planned operations
breaking away
vsbreak
1 5.0

An act of leaving a group suddenly to be on your own

is about sudden physical movement from confinement or control not social separation
prisonbreak
vsbreak
1 4.8

An escape from prison by one or more people

is mainly about sudden movement away from control in general
gaolbreak
vsbreak
  • Archaic
9.4

A planned escape from prison

is focused on sudden movement from control rather than the planning method

Antonyms

∞ 2.4

To have power over people, things, or situations

111 4.2

Keep someone or something within limits, for example in a small space

Idioms

give me a break
  • Informal
100 7.9

Ask someone to stop criticizing or asking too much of you

to make or break
  • Informal
44 4.5

Decide whether something is a complete success or failure

to break a sweat
  • Informal
24 4.1

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

to break a leg
  • Informal
16 6.3

To wish someone good luck before a performance

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

To cost a lot of money

To make a sound or speak after a time of silence

3 7.9

A sudden time when many people lose control and chaos starts

3 5.4

Cause a huge rise in online attention and internet traffic

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

To stop poverty passing from parents to children

1 8.7

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

to break the buck
  • Literature
1 9.8

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

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 do new or difficult things on purpose to learn and grow

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

113 3.9

An illegal entry into a building to steal or damage things

105 2.0

A short vacation from school in spring, usually one week

tax break
  • Specialized
99 3.0

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

big break
  • Informal
51 3.2

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

tough break
  • Informal
23 5.8

An unlucky event that makes things harder for someone

22 1.0

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

lucky break
  • Informal
18 3.2

A sudden chance that helps you succeed

16 1.2

A short pause to use the toilet

clean break
  • Informal
15 3.9

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

13 1.0

A holiday when schools and universities close for winter

fast break
  • Jargon
10 3.5

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

break seal
  • Specialized
8 6.1

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

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

6 1.0

The first light of morning when the sun rises

3 3.6

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

2 1.3

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

1 3.9

A short pause in an activity

The first light of morning when the sun begins to appear

1 4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

1 4.5

Illegal access to a computer system to steal or damage data

service break
  • Jargon
1 5.1

A game the player who is not serving wins in tennis

bio-break
  • Informal
1 8.6

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

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

1 4.1

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

1 5.1

A game one player wins while the opponent is serving

1 3.7

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

9.9

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

How Sudden

breakout
16 7.1
break
78 4.4
movement
636 1.5

Surface Forms

break singular
breaks plural

Etymology

Break comes from an old English word brecan meaning 'to force open' or 'get free'. A 'break' from a place is a sudden escape through an opening.