Definition Synonyms
Definition of breaking - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
newshappening currently and significantly
- Breaking news interrupted the regular broadcast.
2.
interruptioncausing a break or interruption
- The breaking wave crashed onto the shore.
Noun
1.
physical actionact of causing something to separate into pieces
- The breaking of the glass was accidental..
2.
newssudden, important news or updates
- The breaking of the scandal shocked the community..
3.
- Breaking is popular in urban communities.
Images of breaking

act of causing something to separate into pieces
Expressions with breaking
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
point where a situation becomes critical
The negotiations hit a breaking point last night.
weather conditions are improving after bad weather
The weather is breaking up, so the sun is coming out.
cause deep emotional pain or sadness in someone
By ignoring his calls, you are breaking David's heart every single day.
causing someone deep emotional pain or distress
When you left, you were breaking her heart.
news that is currently developing or just announced
The channel interrupted regular programming to broadcast breaking news.
greater than anything measured or done before
The athlete set a record-breaking time in the race.
extremely difficult, demanding, or harsh in a stressful way
That was a ball-breaking exam.
happening or becoming known recently
The news channel reported a late-breaking story about the election results.
act of escaping from prison
The prison-breaking was meticulously planned for months..
related to the early morning light
The breaking dawn sky was a beautiful sight.
deteriorating or becoming worse
The situation is breaking bad quickly.
pertaining to the rapid development or occurrence of an event
The fast-breaking news shocked everyone in the town..
activity to make people feel more relaxed
The meeting started with some ice-breaking to ease the tension.
unauthorized access to commit a crime
Breaking and entering is a serious offense.
rupture of the amniotic sac during labor
The breaking of the waters signaled the start of labor.
rupture of amniotic sac during childbirth
Her water breaking signaled the start of labor.
maximum force a material can withstand before breaking
The rope's breaking strain is 500 kilograms.
historical execution method using a wheel
Breaking on the wheel was a brutal punishment.
maximum force a material can take before it snaps or ruptures
Always check the rope's breaking strength before using it for climbing.
type of pitch in baseball that deviates from a straight path
The pitcher threw a breaking ball that curved sharply..
maximum current an electrical device can interrupt without damage
The circuit breaker's breaking capacity ensures it handles high surges safely..
software update causing other components to fail
The new version introduced a breaking change that affected the app.
Origin of breaking
Old English, brecan (to break)
Terms with breaking included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
physical
able to bend easily without breaking
object fracture
sudden breaking sound
deception
act of deceiving or breaking rules for advantage
animal
emerge from an egg by breaking the shell
law-breaking
in a manner that breaks the law
legal violation
act of breaking a law or rule
ocean
waves breaking on the shore or reef
overfilled
full to the point of breaking open
destruction
the act of breaking or destroying something forcefully
action
open something by breaking or splitting it
breaking
fall apart or disintegrate
rule breaking
fail to follow a rule or command
destruction
bursting or breaking apart violently
animal
emerge from an egg by breaking the shell
egg development
process of eggs developing and breaking open
breaking point
express being unable to tolerate a situation, stress or intense feelings
tie-breaking
final game to break a tie
agriculture
farm tool for breaking and turning soil
cooking
egg cooked by breaking into hot water
breaking
break along a line
eating
eat something without chewing or breaking it up
relationship
meant to stay united for all time without breaking apart
detach
become detached by breaking or snapping
understanding
process of breaking down a subject into parts to understand it
Examples of breaking in a sentence
Breaking developments are unfolding in the city. The breaking news interrupted the broadcast. A breaking point was reached during negotiations. The breaking of the vase was loud and sudden. Breaking of the ice signaled the start of spring. The breaking of the news was unexpected.
Everyone tuned in for the breaking of the election results. Breaking has become a global phenomenon. She learned breaking from her older brother.
View all translations of breaking
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:de dernière minute, casse, ...
- German:aktuell, Zerbrechen, ...
- Italian:dell'ultima ora, rottura, ...
- Spanish:urgente, quebradura, ...
- Portuguese:urgente, quebra, ...
- Chinese:突发的, 破碎, ...
- Japanese:速報の, 破壊, ...
- Arabic:عَاجِل, كَسْر, ...
- Hebrew:דָּחוּף, שְׁבִירָה, ...
- Russian:срочный, ломка, ...
- Ukrainian:терміновий, розбиття, ...
- Hindi:ताज़ा, तोड़ना, ...
Definition of break - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
physicaltr./intr. separate into pieces by forcetr./intr.
- He broke the stick in half.
2.
malfunctiontr./intr. cause to stop functioningtr./intr.
- The computer broke after the power surge.
3.
violationtr. fail to observe a law or agreementtr.
- He did not break the contract deliberately..
4.
interruptiontr. end a silence or pausetr.
- He broke the silence with a loud laugh.
5.
sportstr. surpass a previous recordtr.
- She broke the world record in swimming.
6.
disclosuretr. make known or publictr.
- The journalist broke the news about the scandal.
7.
emotiontr. cause to lose spirit or willtr.
- The harsh conditions broke the soldiers' spirits.
8.
suddenintr. begin or end suddenlyintr.
- The storm broke after days of calm.
9.
movementintr. change direction suddenlyintr.
- The horse broke to the left unexpectedly.
10.
cryptographytr. TECH. decrypt or solve a codetr. TECH.
- They managed to break the enemy's code..
11.
animaltr. Rare tame or train an animaltr. Rare
- It took months to break the wild horse..
Noun
1.
timeinterruption or pause in continuity
- There was a short break in the meeting to allow everyone to refresh..
2.
vacationUK short holiday or vacationUK
- They went on a weekend break to the mountains.
3.
fractureinstance of something separating into pieces
- The break in the vase was clearly visible.
4.
objectgap or opening in something
- There was a break in the fence allowing the dog to escape.
5.
- He got his big break in the film industry.
6.
escapeact of escaping from confinement
- The prisoners planned a break from the jail.
7.
tennisTECH. game won by the receiving player in tennisTECH.
- She secured a break in the final set.
8.
sportsTECH. first shot in a game of billiards or poolTECH.
- He made a perfect break in the pool game.
Images of break

instance of something separating into pieces
Expressions with break
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
stop working or functioning
The car broke down on the highway.
remove a piece from a whole by force
He decided to break off a branch.
separate into smaller parts or pieces
The ice will break up in spring.
escape from physical confinement or captivity
The prisoner tried to break free from the cell.
not keep a commitment
She broke her promise to call every week.
cause serious injury to someone's neck by force
The villain tried to break the hero's neck during the fight.
pause an activity for a short rest or mental refreshment
Let's take a break and get some fresh air.
end a romantic relationship causing sadness
He broke her heart when he left.
create a new physical trail or route
The hikers decided to break a new path through the forest.
destroy physical walls in a building or structure
They decided to break down the walls to expand the room.
enter by force
Thieves break in by smashing a window..
short period of better weather
We went hiking during a break in the weather.
enter a place illegally by force
The thief tried to break into the house.
end a romantic relationship with someone
She decided to break it off with him.
divide something into smaller parts
Let's break it up into smaller groups.
prevent someone from falling
She reached out to break his fall.
cause someone to feel great sadness
The news of his departure will break her heart.
fail to keep a promise or commitment
He broke his word and didn't show up.
develop pimples or a rash
She tends to break out when stressed.
stop or reduce the force when someone is falling
He used his arms to break her fall.
cause deep emotional pain to someone
She broke his heart when she left him.
cause injury that fractures another person’s leg bone
The reckless tackle nearly broke his leg during the game.
surpass a previously set achievement or performance level
She broke the world record in swimming.
introduce conversation to ease tension
She asked about the weather to break the ice.
Origin of break
Old English, brecan (to break)
Examples of break in a sentence
The machine broke the rock into small pieces. She managed to break the old radio. The phone might break if you drop it. She didn't mean to break the rules. They decided to break the agreement. She broke the awkward pause with a question.
The tension was broken by his sudden comment. He aims to break the national record in running. The athlete trained hard to break the previous record. They broke the story on the evening news. The company broke the announcement to the public. The constant failures began to break his resolve. Her spirit was broken by the relentless criticism. A fire broke out just after midnight. When the applause broke, the speaker began again. The car broke sharply to avoid the obstacle. She broke right to dodge the defender. The team worked tirelessly to break the complex cipher. Can you break this encrypted message? She managed to break the colt in just a few weeks. They hired a professional to break the stubborn mule. We took a break after two hours of work. She needed a break from her daily routine. She took a short break to visit her family. A break in the city was just what they needed. The break in the bone required immediate medical attention. There was a break in the chain that needed fixing. Sunlight streamed through a break in the clouds. The wall has a break near the corner. She finally got her break in the music industry. Winning the contest was his break into modeling. The guard foiled their break before dawn. His break from custody made national news. He managed a break early in the match. The player celebrated a crucial break point. The break determined the pace of the match. His break was strong, scattering the balls widely.
View all translations of break
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:casser, interruption, ...
- German:brechen, Pause, ...
- Italian:rompere, sosta, ...
- Spanish:romper, descanso, ...
- Portuguese:partir, pausa, ...
- Chinese:折断, 休息, ...
- Japanese:折る, 休憩, ...
- Arabic:كَسَرَ, استراحة, ...
- Hebrew:לִשְׁבּוֹר, הַפְסָקָה, ...
- Russian:сломать, перерыв, ...
- Ukrainian:ламати, перерва, ...
- Hindi:तोड़ना, विराम, ...
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