Synonym: burst, crack, fracture, interruption, interval, letup, pause, rest, rupture, violation. Antonym: mend, repair. Similar words: break up, break out, break off, break in, break down, break away, break into, break through. Meaning: [breɪk] 
n. 1. some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity 2. an unexpected piece of good luck 3. (geology) a crack in the earth’s crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other 4. a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions) 5. a pause from doing something (as work) 6. the act of breaking something 7. a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something 8. breaking of hard tissue such as bone 9. the occurrence of breaking 10. an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion) 11. the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool 12. (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving 13. an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity 14. a sudden dash 15. any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare 16. an escape from jail. v. 1. terminate 2. become separated into pieces or fragments 3. destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments 4. render inoperable or ineffective 5. ruin completely 6. act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises 7. move away or escape suddenly 8. scatter or part 9. force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up 10. prevent completion 11. enter someone’s property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act 12. make submissive, obedient, or useful 13. fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns 14. surpass in excellence 15. make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret 16. come into being 17. stop operating or functioning 18. interrupt a continued activity 19. make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one’s own by quitting or fleeing 20. curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves 21. lessen in force or effect 22. be broken in 23. come to an end 24. vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity 25. cause to give up a habit 26. give up 27. come forth or begin from a state of latency 28. happen or take place 29. cause the failure or ruin of 30. invalidate by judicial action 31. discontinue an association or relation; go different ways 32. assign to a lower position; reduce in rank 33. reduce to bankruptcy 34. change directions suddenly 35. emerge from the surface of a body of water 36. break down, literally or metaphorically 37. do a break dance 38. exchange for smaller units of money 39. destroy the completeness of a set of related items 40. make the opening shot that scatters the balls 41. separate from a clinch, in boxing 42. go to pieces 43. break a piece from a whole 44. become punctured or penetrated 45. pierce or penetrate 46. be released or become known; of news 47. cease an action temporarily 48. interrupt the flow of current in 49. undergo breaking 50. find a flaw in 51. find the solution or key to 52. change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another 53. happen 54. become fractured; break or crack on the surface only 55. crack; of the male voice in puberty 56. fall sharply 57. fracture a bone of 58. diminish or discontinue abruptly 59. weaken or destroy in spirit or body.
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1 Never give a sucker an even break. 
2 Without hope, the heart would break.
3 A colt you may break, but an old horse you never can.
4 Hard words break no bones, fine words butter no parsnips.
5 Sticks and stones may break my bones,(www.Sentencedict.com) but words will never hurt me.
6 You should not break the law.
7 Stop mucking about with those ornaments, you’ll break something!
8 Protesters tried to break through a police cordon.
9 They used brute force to break open the door.
10 Don’t break in when he is telling the story.
11 Light refreshments will be served during the break.
12 I didn’t mean to break it-it was an accident.
13 They goaded him on to break the window.
14 Marion spoke, eager to break the tense silence.
15 Men are left idle when machines break down.
16 Somebody’s going to break their neck on these steps.
17 Don’t bear hard upon the pencil, it will break.
18 Can you break a one-hundred-yen bill?
19 You will only break my heart.
20 The ship went aground and started to break up.
21 He grabbed her, but she managed to break away.
22 After a short break the play continued.
23 However long the night, the dawn will break.
24 He predicted when war would break out.
25 I want to break up with you.
26 He obliterated the blackboard before break.
27 If it were not for hope, the heart would break.
28 Laws are like cobwebs, which may catches small flies, but let wasps and horns break through.
29 Habit is a cable: we weave a thread of it every day, and at last we cannot break it.
30 aws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle-sized are alone entangled in.
More similar words: break up, break out, break off, break in, break down, break away, break into, break through, breast, streak, breathing, out of breath, breeze, peak, sneak, steak, speak, weaken, speaker, speak up, speak for, to speak of, so to speak, area, real, read, rear, reach, realm, react.
Break sentence. The sentences below are ordered by length from shorter and easier to longer and more complex. They use break in a sentence, providing visitors a sentence for break.
- Break her heart? (8)
- I break my promise. (10)
- We shall break them. (8)
- I do not break my word. (10)
- You will break your neck yet! (8)
- She was forcing him to break it. (8)
- They break their hearts over it. (9)
- The Magyars would break in a charge. (10)
- Break the engagement you cannot fulfil. (10)
- Pluck up your spirit, Jon, and break away. (8)
- It was a chance for Nollie to break the ice. (8)
- I was afraid the poor little thing might break. (8)
- He was trying to break the pane of heavy glass. (13)
- Laura undertook to break the bad news to Merthyr. (10)
- The word was not given; the tempest did not break out. (1)
- I desired to break obstacles; they melted at my glance. (12)
- If we break a single pledged word we cast shame on them. (10)
- The sky and the solid ground break up when I think of you. (10)
- How break a vow she had thought herself quite above breaking? (8)
- Nobody spoke of illness; to mention it might break the spell. (8)
- Thoughts black as death Like a stirred pool in sunshine break. (10)
- We will break the conference, or I shall twaddle to extinction. (10)
- Will you go, then, at once, and leave me to break it to your wife? (8)
- I feel that I cannot break down as long as I know what is passing. (10)
- I should be quite as loth to break through as you would to have me. (9)
- I had to break from them and provide for my aunt Dorothy and Janet. (10)
- I was trying by rough speech to break the deadly repose of her manner. (1)
- He fell asleep pretty early, and he slept through the night without a break. (9)
- I am given to think that I do my best and can be independent; I break down. (10)
- His features gave sign of the break in their common ground, the widening gulf. (10)
- Did she care enough to break through all barriers, fling herself into midstream? (8)
- Not to try and run, not to break out of a walk; to go steady, and yet keep ahead! (8)
- Jealous devotion bade her break the mesh, That I might seek that other like a bird. (10)
- She could still bind him with chains that for a little while at all events he would not want to break! (8)
- He did not know at first how to break the silence which she let follow upon her words. (9)
- Act on it, I say; own me, break the chains, come to me; say, Nevil Beauchamp or death! (10)
- If you choose to get drunk and break the law afterwards you must take the consequences. (8)
- During the winter we have to break those beasts so that we can handle them on the road. (21)
- She could not break back up that hill, and there was no other cover for fully half a mile. (8)
- So are we nerved to break the clinging mesh Which tames the noblest efforts of poor flesh. (10)
- Even the best varnish will break down under this abrasion, but only the best should be used. (17)
- Why not break the excruciating faggot-bands, and escape, when you have only to decide to do it? (10)
- Pippin did not break out again, though fire seemed to smoulder behind the bars of his courteous irony. (8)
- A sob came up in her throat that seemed to tear her to bits, and she cried as if her heart would break. (8)
- It would try me sharply to break the tie connecting us, were it possible to break it. (10)
- Moisture gets under them, and during the winter months especially causes them to lift up and break off. (17)
- The doctor says I am so strong that nothing will break in me, and that I must live, if I am not killed. (10)
- He has, indeed, made almost as clean a break with his past as if he had really been drowned in the river. (9)
- If you wake early enough at this season of the year, you may get up in December to break your fast in June. (2)
- On the Milldam it became difficult to restrict the mare to the long, slow trot into which he let her break. (9)
- An old sea rises in them, rolling no phantom billows to break to spray against existing rocks of the shore. (10)
- Boardman asked, pausing in the act of folding a pair of pantaloons so as not to break the fall over the boot. (9)
- How still and warm was the air, yet seemed to vibrate against his cheeks as though about to break into flame. (8)
- He wrote to Clotilde, with one voice quoting the law in their favour, with another commanding her to break it. (10)
- He had turned a little away, leaning his cheek on his hand, as if to cover that momentary break in his defences. (8)
- But if you do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear him. (4)
- It went ill with Robert in her heart that he did not suddenly grapple and trample the man, and so break away from him. (10)
- But the modern tendency is to a type where flames do not destroy, nor moth corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal. (9)
- The clouds sailed across the irregular space of pale blue Northern sky which the break in the woods opened for them overhead. (9)
- He whirled away the bow, and knocked down our candle, and in the darkness I heard something snap and break with a hollow sound. (10)
- We saw Wedderburn break from a group some way down the pavement and pick up a fresh crumb of amusement at one of the doorsteps. (10)
- But nothing answered, as if fearing to break the spell of her coming, to brush with reality the dark sea dew from her sail-wings. (8)
- His first aim is to arouse suspicion, to break down the presumption of innocence—supposing, of course, that he finds it to exist. (16)
- It was only at table that she could see them together, or that she could note any break in the reserve of the father and daughter. (9)
- Shortly after, he was compelled, through ill-treatment, to break finally with the Archbishop, and he resolved to settle in Vienna. (3)
- If I could see you and tell you the story of Giacomo Piaveni, and some other things, I believe you would break your sword instantly. (10)
- With aching hearts the priests resolved to break up the mission and betake themselves to some less dangerous and more useful station. (19)
- Cold and grey and silent, swifter than yesterday, the stream was flowing by, its dim far shore brightening slowly in the first break of dawn. (8)
- That deathly stillness settled round her heart; her eyes fixed themselves on the skylight, as though beseeching it to break and let in sound. (8)
- He simply informed his disappointed sister one day that he was thoroughly unprepared for so important a step, and begged her to break off the negotiations. (12)
Also see sentences for: bankrupt, breach, chasm, chink, chop, cleave, cleft.
Glad you visited this page with a sentence for break. Now that you’ve seen how to use break in a sentence hope you might explore the rest of this educational reference site Sentencefor.com to see many other example sentences which provide word usage information.
More Sentence Examples
Select First Letter
Verb
She broke the cup when she dropped it on the floor.
Break the chocolate bar into pieces so that everyone can have some.
It is easiest to break a chain at its weakest link.
A chain will break at its weakest link.
The fall broke his arm.
His arm broke in three places when he fell.
A bruise forms when a blood vessel breaks under the skin.
Noun
The tank is reinforced to prevent breaks and leaks.
There was a break in the hedge.
We waited for a break in the traffic.
The fields extend for miles without a break.
We chatted during a break in the game.
All employees are entitled to two breaks during the workday.
We’ve been working all day without a break.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Then, build something that will prevent an egg from breaking after it’s thrown from a high height.
—
Leah Campano, Seventeen, 8 Apr. 2023
Kelly signed with North Carolina to play basketball before breaking Hoover’s all-time scoring record with 2,272 career points over five seasons.
—Dennis Victory, al, 7 Apr. 2023
At Friday’s massive Star Wars Celebration panel, Lucasfilm unveiled plans for new Star Wars movies, including one that broke the audience’s brains: Daisy Ridley’s Rey will return for one of these films.
—Devan Coggan And Nick Romano, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2023
Officials have offered a public apology to a man who was wrongfully detained when special forces broke into his hotel room during a training exercise.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2023
Michael Cabanatuan is a general assignment and breaking news reporter who’s covered everything from wildfires and sports fans to protests and COVID masking requirements.
—Michael Cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2023
The beauty of this stretch encapsulates restaurants and bars with unique items that always make for a good time and won’t break the bank.
—Chuck Blount, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Apr. 2023
The subject came up after Cohen, 54, asked Ripa her reaction to the Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes scandal, in which the two one-time GMA3 hosts were ousted from the program after news of their love affair broke.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2023
Alarms started going off when news broke that the show wouldn’t be coming back in the fall with new episodes.
—Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 7 Apr. 2023
Know when to take a break without completely faltering.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2023
Gossip is the common currency of cubicle cultures and factory break rooms.
—Chris Farrell, Fortune Well, 6 Apr. 2023
Per a report from the Waco Tribune Herald, the Gaines spent around $20 million redesigning the newspaper’s former building to house 20 conference spaces, a meeting area that can hold 200 employees, two break rooms, a lounge, and a test kitchen.
—Ariana Garcia, Chron, 6 Apr. 2023
Chris Hemsworth is taking a break from playing the Asgardian god Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for just long enough to build another franchise.
—Temi Adebowale, Men’s Health, 5 Apr. 2023
His big break came from an invitation to join Thomas Johnson, who is widely acknowledged as the originator of clown dancing and has been working birthday parties and other events for decades as Tommy the Clown.
—Wesley Lapointe, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2023
Miranda Lambert is in the middle of her Velvet Rodeo residency in Las Vegas, and she has unfortunately been forced to take a break.
—Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 31 Mar. 2023
There are low-sensory areas at each park for guests to take a break and relax in a more low-key environment with less stimulation.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2023
Take a break from devices, TV and the noise that may cause you any type of distress and also provide good quality time with family and friends.
—Rosa Sanchez, Harper’s BAZAAR, 31 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘break.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. BREAK AWAY
- To become separate, move away or leave something
A few members of the mainstream political party broke away and formed their own, more radical party. - To escape physically from someone or something
The attacker grabbed her hair but she managed to break away.
2. BREAK DOWN
- To stop working (usually referring to a machine or vehicle)
My car broke down on the way home last night!
- To become very upset or emotional
She broke down when she started talking about her bad childhood. - To become weak or collapse (often due to stress)
His work was so stressful that he had a breakdown and had to take 6 months off. - To cause something to fall or be destroyed
I will break down this door if you don’t open up! - To explain something step by step
I don’t think you understand so let me break it down for you. - To divide something into separate parts
That’s come to a lot of money! Could we see a break down of the bill? - When a discussion or relationship stops being successful
A lack of communication caused the relationship to break down. - To remove a difficulty that stops something from happening
We hope this event will break down barriers between neighbours. - To reduce something to its component parts
Water can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen.
3. BREAK INTO
- To start doing something
I broke into a sweat when I started climbing the mountain. - To begin working successfully in a new business or area
She only managed to break into the music industry later in life.
The company broke into the European housing market last year. - To enter somewhere by force, illegally
Some teenagers broke into the school and stole all the computers!
4. BREAK IN ON
- To interrupt or interject a conversation
I’m sorry to break in on your chat, but could I borrow your pen?
His loud voice broke in on their conversation.
5. BREAK IN
- To enter somewhere by force, illegally
The thieves broke in through the side door that was left unlocked. - To make new shoes or clothes comfortable by wearing them
Those shoes won’t be uncomfortable for long. You just need to break them in. - To tame a horse
We got a trainer to break in our new horse.
There are many ‘break’ phrasal verbs to describe entering somewhere by force! For example, ‘break into’, ‘break in’, ‘break open’ and ‘break through’ can all express this but with slightly different meanings. Usually ‘break into’ or ‘break in’ are used to describe entering somewhere illegally – e.g. ‘The thieves broke into my house at night and stole all my jewelry!’.
6. BREAK OFF
- To separate something
She broke off a piece of chocolate and put it in her mouth. - To end a relationship
She broke off the relationship after she found out he was cheating. - To stop talking or doing something (usually abruptly)
She broke off in mid sentence after realising she’d said the wrong thing.
7. BREAK OPEN
- To open something by force
The police broke open the door when no one opened it.
We had to break open the petty cash box because the key didn’t work.
8. BREAK OUT
- To escape from a place or situation
They managed to break out of prison by digging a tunnel. - When something suddenly begins (often dangerous or unpleasant)
War broke out after the opposition leader was shot. - When something suddenly appears on your skin
She broke out in a rash after she was stung by a bee.
9. BREAK THROUGH
- To force yourself through something that is holding you back
They broke through the barriers to get into the music festival. - To go higher than a certain or expected level
Profit this year broke through our annual sales targets. - To appear from behind something
The sun broke through the clouds.
‘Break it up’ is often used informally to ask two or more people to stop fighting. For example, ‘Break it up, you two!’ is a common phrase you might hear in England if a parent’s kids are arguing over a toy.
10. BREAK UP
- To divide something into smaller pieces
The land was broken up into smaller plots. - Unable to hear someone when you’re talking on the phone
Could you repeat that, please? It’s a bad line and you’re breaking up. - When a business or personal relationship ends
It was sad when Anna and Tom broke up. - When a school term ends, school finishes and the holidays start
We break up for Christmas this Friday. I can’t wait! - To stop a fight
The police broke up a fight outside our local pub.
Many phrasal verbs with ‘break’ are to do with leaving or ending something. For example, ‘break away’, ‘break up’ and ‘break with’ can all mean: to move away or leave something or someone. In everyday spoken English, ‘break up’ is most commonly used to describe the ending of a romantic relationship – e.g. ‘Hannah broke up with me last night by text message!’.
11. BREAK WITH
- To stop doing something that is normal or traditional
She broke with convention and trained as a mechanic. - To leave a group or relationship
He broke with his local church group after a disagreement with the priest.
Exercises: phrasal verbs with ‘break’
Task A
Match the phrasal verbs 1-8 with their correct meanings a-h:
- Break out
- Break down
- Break in
- Break through
- Break up
- Break with
- Break open
- Break off
- To make new shoes or clothes comfortable by wearing them
- To divide something into smaller pieces
- To open something by force
- When something suddenly begins
- To become very upset or emotional
- To stop doing something that is normal or traditional
- To stop talking or doing something
- To get higher than a certain or expected level
Task B
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence below:
(Note: Some phrasal verb may be used more than once!)
- She broke down/broke open/broke apart when she heard the news.
- I heard he broke down/broke out/broke off the engagement.
- The burglars broke into/broke down/broke off the shopping centre.
- The protestors broke up/broke through/broke in on the fence.
- When I thought I might miss the train I broke into/broke out/broke open a jog.
- Mark and Olivia broke down/broke up/broke with yesterday! I thought they made a nice couple, but it didn’t work out for them.
- A number of priests broke down/broke away/broke open from the Catholic Church because they disagreed with the new Pope.
- France and the UK couldn’t agree on the terms of the deal so the talks broke down/broke open/broke with.
Task C
Fill in the gaps with an appropriate ‘break’ phrasal verb:
(Note: Some phrasal verbs may be used more than once!)
- The train __________ so I’m going to be home very late tonight.
- These new shoes hurt! I’ll have to __________ them _________.
- The new restaurant __________ all sales expectations.
- I can’t wait to ___________ for summer holidays next week!
- I’m not sure why she suddenly __________ in mid sentence; perhaps John thought he was listening to the conversation.
- The drought caused a famine to ___________.
- He’d always wanted a career in journalism and finally he managed to ___________.
- He grabbed me but I ___________.
Check your answers:
Task A
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Task B
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Task C
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Match the phrasal verb with the corresponding meaning.
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Complete the sentences with the corresponding preposition.
- We can’t move further. Our jeep has broken … .
- The joke was so funny that Mrs Finch broke … laughter.
- World War II broke … in Europe in 1939.
- “You’re a liar! It happened on Thursday, not on Friday!” Kelly broke … .
- Max’s rude words offended Joyce and she broke … tears.
- The police say the criminal broke … through the windows.
- Some of the mad people tried to break … the police cordons.
- The sun managed to break … for a while in the morning.
- When the Rudolph saw the police officer and broke … a run.
- The performance of the actors was fantastic and the audience broke … applause.
- Some forest fires broke … during the season of the constant drought.
- Michelle felt empty inside after Michael had broken … with her.
- The thief tried to break … but the police officer caught him red-handed.
- Military conflicts break … quite often nowadays.
- Don’t try to escape! You won’t break … .
- I seem to be the unhappiest man alive! My pen-drive has broken … again! I’ve lost all the data!
Match the phrasal verb with the corresponding meaning.
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Complete the sentences with the corresponding preposition.
- We can’t move further. Our jeep has broken … .
- The joke was so funny that Mrs Finch broke … laughter.
- World War II broke … in Europe in 1939.
- “You’re a liar! It happened on Thursday, not on Friday!” Kelly broke … .
- Max’s rude words offended Joyce and she broke … tears.
- The police say the criminal broke … through the windows.
- Some of the mad people tried to break … the police cordons.
- The sun managed to break … for a while in the morning.
- When the Rudolph saw the police officer and broke … a run.
- The performance of the actors was fantastic and the audience broke … applause.
- Some forest fires broke … during the season of the constant drought.
- Michelle felt empty inside after Michael had broken … with her.
- The thief tried to break … but the police officer caught him red-handed.
- Military conflicts break … quite often nowadays.
- Don’t try to escape! You won’t break … .
- I seem to be the unhappiest man alive! My pen-drive has broken … again! I’ve lost all the data!
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