break
break
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "break" is /breɪk/.
/breɪk/ (one syllable)
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day")
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: break
Third-person singular present: breaks
Present participle: breaking
Past simple: broke
Past participle: broken
Noun:
Singular: break
Plural: breaks
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To separate into pieces as a result of impact, stress, or a similar force.
Synonyms: shatter, smash, fracture, rupture, fragment
Antonyms: mend, repair, fix, join, unite
Definition 2: To interrupt the continuity or flow of something; to discontinue or pause.
Synonyms: halt, cease, suspend, interrupt, stop
Antonyms: continue, resume, maintain, sustain, persist
Definition 3: To violate or fail to observe a rule, law, or promise.
Synonyms: infringe, transgress, contravene, violate, disregard
Antonyms: obey, follow, adhere, uphold, observe
Definition 4: To overcome or surpass a record, barrier, or limit.
Synonyms: surpass, exceed, overcome, surmount, transcend
Antonyms: fail, fall short, undershoot, miss, cede
Definition 5: To make known or reveal something previously secret or unknown.
Synonyms: disclose, reveal, divulge, unveil, announce
Antonyms: conceal, hide, keep secret, suppress, withhold
Noun
Definition 1: An interruption of continuity or uniformity.
Synonyms: pause, intermission, recess, interlude, hiatus
Antonyms: continuity, flow, continuation, permanence, regularity
Definition 2: An instance of breaking something, or the point where something has broken.
Synonyms: fracture, crack, rupture, split, damage
Antonyms: repair, mend, whole, intactness, restoration
Definition 3: A stroke of luck or a favorable turn of events.
Synonyms: opportunity, chance, stroke of luck, advantage, windfall
Antonyms: misfortune, setback, drawback, disadvantage, reversal
Examples of Use
Books:
"His heart gave a sudden break of pain as he saw her." (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby) - Here, "break" is used as a noun to describe an abrupt feeling.
"Every chain has a weak link, and every system has a point where it can break." (From a fictional suspense novel, common in genre) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to fail or collapse.
"She needed a break from the incessant demands of her job." (From a self-help book, common usage) - "Break" as a noun, meaning a pause or rest.
Newspapers:
"Negotiations between the two nations reached an impasse, threatening to break down completely." (Headline from The New York Times, referencing a diplomatic crisis) - "Break down" as a phrasal verb, meaning to fail or collapse.
"Local police have made a significant break in the cold case, identifying a new suspect." (Article in the Chicago Tribune, referring to a breakthrough) - "Break" as a noun, meaning a significant development or discovery.
"Economists predict the housing market will finally break its downward trend next quarter." (Financial section of The Wall Street Journal, discussing market trends) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to reverse a trend.
Online Publications:
"Here are five tips to help you break bad habits and form new, positive ones." (Article on Lifehacker.com, a common self-improvement topic) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to stop or eliminate.
"The internet security firm reported a major data break yesterday, affecting millions of user accounts." (Tech news report on Wired.com, referring to a security breach) - "Break" as a noun, meaning a security breach or compromise.
"We need to break the cycle of poverty by investing in education and sustainable development." (Op-ed piece on The Guardian Online, discussing social issues) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to interrupt a recurring pattern.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (News/Talk Show): "We'll be right back after this short commercial break." (Common phrase used by TV anchors during programming) - "Break" as a noun, meaning an interruption for commercials.
Film (Dialogue): "Don't break character, no matter what happens." (Line from an actor in a drama film, emphasizing staying in role) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to stop or deviate from a role.
Music (Song Lyrics): "You can't break my spirit, I'm stronger than you know." (Lyrics from a pop song, expressing resilience) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to diminish or destroy one's resolve.
Podcasts: "In this episode, we break down the complexities of quantum physics for a lay audience." (Science podcast description, meaning to analyze or explain in detail) - "Break down" as a phrasal verb, meaning to analyze or explain.
Video Games: "Your armor is about to break! Find a repair station." (In-game notification in an RPG, indicating item degradation) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to become damaged or unusable.
General Public Discourse:
"I need a coffee break." (Common spoken phrase among colleagues or friends, indicating a desire for a short rest) - "Break" as a noun, meaning a short rest.
"Be careful not to break that vase, it's an antique." (Spoken warning in a home setting, referring to physical damage) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to damage or shatter.
"Let's break for lunch." (Common suggestion in a meeting or group activity, indicating a pause) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to pause.
"That new artist is about to get their big break." (Informal conversation, referring to a major opportunity for success) - "Break" as a noun, meaning a significant opportunity.
"You're not going to break my trust, are you?" (Direct question in a personal conversation, referring to a violation of trust) - "Break" as a verb, meaning to violate.
10 Famous Quotes Using Break
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." (Traditional proverb)
"Every man has his limitations. To break them, he must strive." (Bruce Lee)
"Sometimes things have to break apart in order to make way for better things." (Attributed to Charles F. Glassman)
"You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice. Then you break." (Attributed to Bob Marley, though widely debated)
"A man can be destroyed but not defeated." (Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea - while not using "break," it's a strong metaphorical equivalent of not allowing one's spirit to break)
"When you're trying to break a habit, it's not about stopping yourself, it's about starting something new." (Tony Robbins)
"We are all broken, that's how the light gets in." (Ernest Hemingway, often misattributed as an original quote, but a popular sentiment)
"Don't break your heart by holding onto something that's no longer there." (Unknown)
"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself." (Mark Caine - metaphorically, refusing to let your spirit "break" under circumstances)
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Nelson Mandela - implying an ability to recover and not "break" from setbacks)
Etymology
The word "break" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots all the way back to an ancient language.
Imagine a very, very old language that's the ancestor of many European languages, called Proto-Indo-European. In this ancient language, there was a root word, something like *bʰreg-, which meant "to break."
From this ancient root, the word evolved through different branches of language. It passed into Proto-Germanic, becoming something like *brekaną. This Proto-Germanic word then made its way into Old English, the earliest form of the English language, where it appeared as "brecan."
The first known use and meaning of "brecan" in Old English was very broad, covering many ideas related to things falling apart or being forced apart. It meant things like:
To violently divide solid matter into pieces or fragments: Think of smashing something.
To injure: Like breaking a bone.
To violate a promise or a law: Breaking your word.
To destroy or curtail: To put an end to something.
To burst forth or spring out: Like water breaking through a dam.
To subdue or tame: To "break" a wild horse.
So, even in its earliest form, "break" was a strong, versatile word for anything that involved forceful separation, disruption, or overcoming something. Over centuries, as English developed, "brecan" evolved into our modern "break," keeping many of its original meanings while also gaining new ones, like taking a "break" (a pause) or getting a "break" (a stroke of luck).
Phrases + Idioms Containing Break
Break a leg! (Good luck)
Break even (To neither gain nor lose money)
Break the ice (To initiate social interaction or conversation)
Break the bank (To cost too much money)
Break the news (To tell someone important news, often bad)
Break free (To escape from confinement or restriction)
Break down (To cease to function; to become emotionally distressed)
Break up (To end a relationship; to separate into smaller pieces)
Break out (To escape; to start suddenly, as in a disease or war)
Break through (To achieve success after overcoming an obstacle)
Break new ground (To innovate or discover something new)
Break ranks (To go against the common opinion or action of a group)
Give me a break! (An expression of exasperation or disbelief)
Make or break (A situation that will result in either total success or total failure)
Break wind (To pass gas)
Break bread (To share a meal)
To break a record (To surpass a previous achievement)
Break one's back (To work extremely hard)
A clean break (A complete and sudden separation or ending)
Break a sweat (To exert oneself physically)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of break from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
