Explore a collection of phrasal verbs with "break" and their meanings. From leaving suddenly to disintegration and entering forcefully, delve into their usage and examples.
1.
Break away (
Leave suddenly):
- She decided to break away from her toxic relationship and start afresh.
- They witnessed the prisoner attempting to break away from the guards during the chaos.
- He felt the need to break away from the routine and explore new horizons.
2.
Break away (
Become separated, literally or figuratively):
- The iceberg broke away from the glacier and drifted into the ocean.
- They watched as the crowd broke away into smaller groups, dispersing in different directions.
- She finally managed to break away from the negative influences in her life.
3.
Break down (
Fail, to cease to function):
- The car broke down in the middle of the highway, causing a traffic jam.
- They experienced a power outage, causing the entire system to break down.
- She felt overwhelmed and broke down under the pressure of the workload.
4.
Break down (
Render or become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally):
- The athlete broke down during the marathon, unable to continue due to exhaustion.
- He struggled to cope with the emotional turmoil and eventually broke down in tears.
- They witnessed their friend breaking down after the loss of a loved one.
5.
Break down (
Render or become weak and ineffective):
- The immune system broke down and couldn't fight off the infection.
- She realized her arguments would break down under closer scrutiny.
- They observed how the communication between the team members broke down over time.
6.
Break down (
Decay, to decompose):
- The fallen leaves broke down over time, returning nutrients to the soil.
- They studied the process by which organic matter breaks down into simpler compounds.
- She learned about the role of microorganisms in helping organic material break down naturally.
7.
Break down (
Divide into parts to give more details, to provide a more in-depth analysis of):
- The report broke down the financial data, providing a clear overview of the company's performance.
- He decided to break down the complex concept into simpler terms for better understanding.
- They requested the instructor to break down the steps of the equation to solve it more easily.
8.
Break down (
Digest):
- The enzymes in the stomach help break down food into nutrients.
- She struggled to break down the information presented in the dense textbook.
- They learned how the digestive system works to break down and absorb nutrients from food.
9.
Break even (
Neither gain nor lose money):
- The business managed to break even after a challenging year of expenses and revenue.
- They calculated the costs and revenues to determine whether they would break even on the project.
- She hoped that the sales would be enough to break even and cover the production costs.
10.
Break even (
Stay the same; to neither advance nor regress):
- The score remained tied, and both teams broke even after a competitive match.
- They realized that despite their efforts, they would break even in terms of progress.
- She hoped to break even and maintain her current level of fitness during the vacation.
11.
Break in (
Enter a place by force or illicit means):
- The thieves attempted to break in through the back entrance of the house.
- She heard a suspicious noise and suspected someone was trying to break in.
- They installed security cameras to prevent burglars from breaking in to their property.
12.
Break in (
Cause to function more naturally through use or wear):
- He wore the new shoes for a few days to break them in and make them more comfortable.
- She advised her friend to break in the new car engine gently to avoid any mechanical issues.
- They patiently waited for the musical instrument to be broken in and reach its optimal sound quality.
13.
Break off (
End a relationship):
- They decided to break off their engagement due to irreconcilable differences.
- She realized it was time to break off the toxic friendship that was bringing her down.
- He struggled to break off the long-term relationship, fearing the consequences.
14.
Break off (
To stop (temporarily)):
- break off the meeting for a short break and reconvene in 15 minutes.
- She decided to break off her studies for a semester to focus on personal matters.
- They had to break off their conversation when an urgent matter required their attention.
15.
Break off (
To become separate (from something)):
- The iceberg broke off from the larger ice shelf, drifting into the open ocean.
- She accidentally broke off a piece of the cookie while taking a bite.
- They saw a branch break off from the tree during the strong windstorm.
16.
Break into (
Enter illegally or by force, especially to commit a crime):
- The burglars managed to break into the jewelry store and steal valuable items.
- She reported a suspicious individual trying to break into her neighbor's house.
- They increased security measures to prevent unauthorized individuals from breaking into the building.
17.
Break into (
Open or begin to use):
- He couldn't wait to break into the new video game and start playing.
- She finally broke into the field of professional photography after years of hard work.
- They encouraged her to break into the music industry with her exceptional talent.
18.
Break into (
Successfully enter a profession or business):
- He managed to break into the competitive world of acting and landed his first role.
- She aspired to break into the fashion industry and establish her own clothing line.
- They celebrated their friend's achievement as she broke into the tech startup scene with her innovative idea.
19.
Break into (
Begin suddenly):
- Laughter broke into the room as they shared funny stories.
- She couldn't help but break into a smile when she saw her surprise birthday party.
- They cheered as the sun broke into the clouds, illuminating the landscape.
20.
Break out (
Escape, especially forcefully or defiantly):
- The prisoners managed to break out of the heavily guarded prison.
- She saw a protest breaking out in the streets, with people demanding justice.
- They organized a daring plan to break out their friend from the oppressive regime.
21.
Break out (
Begin suddenly; to emerge in a certain condition):
- A rash broke out on her skin after an allergic reaction.
- She felt her creativity breaking out as new ideas flowed effortlessly.
- They noticed a smile breaking out on his face as he received good news.
22.
Break through (
To break a way through (something solid)):
- They used a battering ram to break through the door and gain entry.
- She managed to break through the crowd and reach the front of the stage.
- He persevered and eventually broke through the obstacles that stood in his path.
23.
Break through (
To make new and important discoveries):
- The scientist's research broke through existing theories, revolutionizing the field.
- She worked tirelessly to break through the barriers and achieve groundbreaking results.
- They celebrated the team's breakthrough as they broke through the limitations of conventional thinking.
24.
Break up (
Break or separate into pieces; to disintegrate or come apart):
- The vase accidentally broke up when it fell off the shelf.
- They watched the iceberg breaking up into smaller chunks as it drifted in the ocean.
- She used a hammer to break up the concrete into smaller fragments.
25.
Break up (
End a relationship):
- They mutually agreed to break up after realizing their differences were irreconcilable.
- She felt heartbroken after the break-up with her long-term partner.
- He struggled to move on after the break-up and needed time to heal.
26.
Break up (
Dissolve; to part):
- The meeting broke up after hours of intense discussion and debate.
- She witnessed the crowd breaking up into smaller groups as they dispersed.
- They decided to break up the project into smaller tasks for better coordination.
27.
Break up (
Break or separate into pieces):
- The storm caused the waves to break up against the rocky shore.
- She used her hands to break up the clumps of soil in the garden.
- They needed to break up the ice blocks into smaller chunks for easier storage.
28.
Break up (
Stop a fight
Break up: Interrupt or discontinue a fight or argument; to separate people who are fighting):
- They stepped in to break up the fight and restore order.
- She called security to break up the altercation between two customers.
- They pleaded with the siblings to break up their heated argument and find a peaceful resolution.
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