break

To damage something so it comes apart, cracks, or loses its proper shape.

• Be careful not to break the glass.
• She fell and broke her wrist.
• The plate broke into three pieces.

How to use it: break something into something (She broke the chocolate into small pieces.); break something off something (He broke a branch off the tree.)

Similar words: smash, fracture

Opposites: mend, repair

Common phrases: break a window, break something off, break into pieces

To do something against a rule or law, or fail to do what you promised.

• Never break a promise.
• They broke the rules and lost their prize.
• You could go to prison for breaking the law.

Similar words: violate, disobey

Opposites: obey, keep

Common phrases: break the law, break a promise, break the rules

If a machine or object does this, it stops working because something is wrong.

• My phone will break if it gets wet.
• The washing machine broke yesterday.
• Our car broke down on the way home.

Similar words: fail, stop working

Common phrases: break down, break again, break easily

To go past a limit or record, or pass through the surface of something.

• She hopes to break the record.
• A whale broke the surface beside our boat.
• The aircraft broke the sound barrier.

Similar words: surpass, exceed, penetrate

Common phrases: break a record, break the surface, break a barrier

To escape from a place or situation where you were being held.

• The horse managed to break free.
• Three prisoners broke out last night.
• She broke away from the guards and ran.

How to use it: break out of something (Two prisoners broke out of jail.); break free from someone/something (The dog broke free from its owner.)

Similar words: escape, get away

Common phrases: break free, break out, break away

To stop an activity for a short rest.

• Let’s break for lunch.
• The meeting broke for coffee at eleven.
• We usually break after the first two hours.

How to use it: break for something (We will break for tea at four.)

Similar words: pause, stop

Opposites: continue, resume

Common phrases: break for lunch, break for coffee, break briefly

A short time when you stop an activity, often to rest.

• Let’s take a break.
• We get two short breaks each morning.
• Can I have a break from cleaning?

How to use it: break from something (I need a break from studying.)

Similar words: rest, pause

Common phrases: take a break, coffee break, break from something

A period of days or weeks when students do not have classes.

• School closes for the winter break tomorrow.
• We visited our cousins during spring break.
• How long is your summer break?

Similar words: holiday, vacation

Common phrases: spring break, winter break, school break