break
brayk
Break (verb) means to separate something into pieces by force, often suddenly. Example: “She dropped the vase and it broke into a dozen pieces.”
verb
1
To separate something into pieces by force, often suddenly.
"She dropped the vase and it broke into a dozen pieces."
"He broke his arm falling off his bike."
"Be careful not to break the glass when you wash it."
2
To stop working properly; to malfunction.
"My laptop broke the day before the deadline."
"If the printer breaks, call the office technician."
3
To fail to keep (a promise, rule, or law).
"He broke his promise to call every day."
"Drivers who break the speed limit may get fined."
"Don't break the rules of the game, or you'll be out."
4
To interrupt or bring an end to something continuous.
"The silence was finally broken by a burst of laughter."
"We stopped at a small cafe to break the long drive."
noun
1
A short pause or rest from an activity.
"Let's take a fifteen-minute break before the next session."
"She needed a break from work after months of overtime."
"We stopped for a short break halfway up the hill."
2
A sudden change, gap, or interruption.
"There was a break in the clouds just as the sun set."
"There was a break in the rain, so we ran home."
"A break in the fence let the sheep wander out."
How to use break
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of English's most flexible verbs — covering fracturing, malfunctioning, interrupting, and violating rules — plus a noun for a pause or gap.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with brake (to slow a vehicle) — they sound identical but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
take a break
break a promise
break down
lucky break
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Word forms
- Plural
- breaks
- Third person singular
- breaks
- Past tense
- broke, brake, broken, breaked
- Archaic forms
- brokest, breakest, breaketh
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Be careful not to _____ the glass when you wash it.
Etymology
From Old English brecan ("to break"), an ancient Germanic word related to Latin frangere — the root behind English words like fracture and fragment.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for break
See all rhymes for break →Frequently asked questions
What does “break” mean?
The word “break” means to separate something into pieces by force, often suddenly. In plain terms, one of English's most flexible verbs — covering fracturing, malfunctioning, interrupting, and violating rules — plus a noun for a pause or gap.
How do you pronounce “break”?
“Break” is pronounced brayk (/bɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “break” in a sentence?
Here is “break” used in a sentence: “Let's take a fifteen-minute break before the next session.”
What is another word for “break”?
Words with a similar meaning to “break” include burst, bust, shatter, shear, smash and split.
What is the opposite of “break”?
The opposite of “break” — its antonyms — are assemble, fix, join, mend and put together.
What part of speech is “break”?
Depending on how it is used, “break” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “break” come from?
The word “break” comes from Latin. From Old English brecan ("to break"), an ancient Germanic word related to Latin frangere — the root behind English words like fracture and fragment.
Is “break” a common word?
“Break” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between break and brake?
Break and brake sound identical but differ in meaning. Break is a verb meaning to separate into pieces, or a noun for a pause. Brake refers to the device that slows or stops a vehicle, and the act of using it. You break a glass, but you brake to stop a car. Only 'brake' involves stopping.
What are the different meanings of break?
Break has many senses beyond shattering. It can mean to pause, as in a coffee break; to stop working, like a broken phone; to disobey, as in breaking a rule; or to interrupt, such as breaking the silence. The common idea running through them is a sudden separation, stop, or change.
What is the past tense of break?
Break is irregular. Its simple past tense is 'broke' — 'she broke the plate yesterday'. The past participle is 'broken', used with have or be, as in 'the plate has broken'. A common mistake is saying 'breaked', which is incorrect. The three principal forms are break, broke, and broken.
What is the opposite of break?
The opposite depends on the sense. When break means to shatter, the opposites are fix, mend, or repair. When it means to stop working, the opposite is to function or work. When it means to pause, the opposite is to continue. In each case, break marks a disruption that its opposite undoes.
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