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break

break

118 3.4
An ending of a relationship or cooperation after disagreement
  • noun
  • /breɪk/
: ruptura
  • What precipitated the break between us was my decision to speak directly to his superior.
  • a break-up
  • break with the past
  • a break from tradition

Well, you may have just had a break up and instead of saying, why me?

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Examples

  • The break in their friendship caused both of them a lot of pain.

  • Adriana didn't know yet about the break-up and sometimes asked him about Luz-Marie.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I just went through a break up.

  • Now that you and Mom have made the break, you can't help feeling responsible and a bit guilty.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Now, that instantly explained my break-up with John Miller, my high school sweetheart of two years.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • After the break, they found it hard to trust each other again.

  • Their disagreement led to a break that neither of them had anticipated.

Synonyms

division
vsbreak
160 4.2

A strong disagreement that separates people in a group

is the neutral ending word that does not stress internal group split
breakup
vsbreak
119 3.4

The end of a relationship, often between romantic partners or groups

is the general term for any ending between people or groups
divide
vsbreak
115 6.0

A strong disagreement between groups that causes tension

is the general ending word and does not require an ongoing disagreement
breakdown
vsbreak
68 4.4

A failure in a system or relationship that stops it working properly

is the simple ending word not focused on systemic collapse
severance
vsbreak
44 6.9

An end to a connection between people or groups

is the common word for ending associations without legal or formal sense
rift
vsbreak
43 5.4

A serious break between people or groups that causes conflict

is the broader ending term that may not imply lasting conflict
falling out
vsbreak
  • Informal
31 4.4

A disagreement that ends or weakens a relationship

is the neutral ending term and does not focus on the prior quarrel
dissolution
vsbreak
  • Formal
22 6.8

The official ending of a group like a partnership or parliament

is the ordinary ending word not implying formality or legal process
separation
vsbreak
  • Formal
22 3.7

When married people stop living together but are not divorced

is the general ending term without the legal marriage focus
clean break
vsbreak
  • Informal
15 3.9

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

is the ordinary ending word that does not imply a fresh start
breach
vsbreak
8 5.2

A break in friendly relations between people or groups causing tension

is the neutral ending term not limited to problems between friends
fragmentation
vsbreak
  • Specialized
6 6.8

When a group or society breaks into smaller parts and loses shared values

is the general ending term not emphasizing gradual disintegration
rupture
vsbreak
4 7.1

A serious break between people or groups that causes a lack of trust

is the general ending term that does not always imply extreme hostility
3 6.1

A time when people or groups separate and go different ways

is the broader ending term without the image of diverging paths
splitsville
vsbreak
  • Slang
2 9.9

The end of a romantic relationship, for example a breakup or divorce

is the neutral, general word for ending relationships without informality
break-off
vsbreak
1 4.3

An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden

is the general ending word without the suddenness emphasis
bust-up
vsbreak
  • UK
1 7.1

A serious argument that ends a friendship or other relationship

is the neutral ending term without the specific quarrel focus
disbandment
vsbreak
1 7.5

Breaking up an organized group like a band or army

is the general ending word that also applies to personal ties
breaking off
vsbreak
1 4.7

A sudden end of an activity, relationship, or talk

is used more generally and does not stress sudden interruption
breaking away
vsbreak
1 5.0

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

is the broad ending term not focused on gaining independence
burst-up
vsbreak
  • UK
7.7

A sudden strong argument that ends a relationship or situation

is the standard ending word without the violent sudden argument image

Antonyms

49 5.1

To become friendly again after a disagreement

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 Final

breakup
119 3.4
break
118 3.4
rift
43 5.4
split
98 4.2
disagreement
231 1.6

Surface Forms

break singular
breaks plural

Etymology

Break comes from an old English word brecan meaning 'to split' or 'separate'. A 'break' between people is a split or ending of the relationship.