brake
brayk
Brake (noun) means a device that slows or stops a vehicle or machine, usually by friction, or the pedal or lever used to apply it. Example: “My bicycle brake squeals whenever it rains, so I need to fix it.”
noun
1
A device that slows or stops a vehicle or machine, usually by friction, or the pedal or lever used to apply it.
"My bicycle brake squeals whenever it rains, so I need to fix it."
"She slammed on the brakes to avoid the deer in the road."
"The mechanic replaced the worn brake pads."
verb
1
To slow down or stop a vehicle by using its brakes.
"The driver braked gently as the bus approached the stop."
"You should brake early when the road is wet."
"He braked hard as the light turned red."
How to use brake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA brake slows or stops movement, most commonly in a vehicle; to brake means to apply that slowing action.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "break" (to split apart or damage) — they sound identical but mean very different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hit the brakes
brake pedal
emergency brake
brake hard
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Word forms
- Plural
- brakes
- Third person singular
- brakes
- Past tense
- braked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My bicycle _____ squeals whenever it rains, so I need to fix it.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, possibly from a Middle Dutch or Low German word related to breaking or restraining.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for brake
See all rhymes for brake →Frequently asked questions
What does “brake” mean?
The word “brake” means a device that slows or stops a vehicle or machine, usually by friction, or the pedal or lever used to apply it. In plain terms, a brake slows or stops movement, most commonly in a vehicle; to brake means to apply that slowing action.
How do you pronounce “brake”?
“Brake” is pronounced brayk (/bɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “brake” in a sentence?
Here is “brake” used in a sentence: “She slammed on the brakes to avoid the deer in the road.”
What is the opposite of “brake”?
The opposite of “brake” — its antonyms — are floor it, put the pedal to the metal, redline and accelerate.
What part of speech is “brake”?
Depending on how it is used, “brake” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brake” come from?
The word “brake” comes from German. Origin uncertain, possibly from a Middle Dutch or Low German word related to breaking or restraining.
Is “brake” a common word?
“Brake” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “brake” have?
“Brake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device that slows or stops a vehicle or machine, usually by friction, or the pedal or lever used to apply it.
What is the difference between brake and break?
Brake refers to slowing or stopping a vehicle, or the device that does so, as in 'hit the brakes'. Break means to shatter, damage, or pause, as in 'break a glass' or 'take a break'; the two are homophones but never interchangeable.
When should you use 'brake' instead of 'break'?
Use brake only when you mean slowing a vehicle or the mechanism that does it, such as 'the driver had to brake sharply'. If you mean stopping an activity or damaging something, the correct word is break.
What is the difference between braking and decelerating?
Braking specifically means applying a vehicle's brakes to slow it, usually through friction. Decelerating is the more general term for any reduction in speed, which can happen by braking, easing off the accelerator, or going uphill.
What are common collocations with brake?
Frequent phrases include 'slam on the brakes', 'hit the brakes', 'emergency brake', and 'handbrake'. Figuratively, 'put the brakes on' means to slow down or stop a plan or process.
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