BREAK Family Dictionary
💪⚡ Essential phrasal verbs for ruptures, breakthroughs and separations
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💔 Ending & Stopping
🔓 Entering & Escaping
🌅 Starting & Beginning
⏸️ Interruption & Pause
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BREAK UP ↑ Categories
Meaning: To end a relationship, to separate into pieces, to disband
"They decided to break up after three years together."
"The ice on the lake is starting to break up in spring."
💡 Usage Tip:
Very common for relationships ending and physical separation.
BREAK OFF ↑ Categories
Meaning: To stop suddenly, to separate by breaking, to end abruptly
"She broke off in the middle of her sentence."
"A large branch broke off the tree during the storm."
💡 Usage Tip:
Can mean sudden stopping or physical separation.
BREAK DOWN ↑ Categories
Meaning: To stop working, to collapse emotionally, to analyze
"My car broke down on the highway yesterday."
"Let's break down the problem into smaller parts."
💡 Usage Tip:
Multiple meanings: mechanical failure, emotional collapse, or analysis.
BREAK APART ↑ Categories
Meaning: To separate into pieces, to destroy unity
"The old building is breaking apart after years of neglect."
"The family broke apart after the father's death."
💡 Usage Tip:
Used for physical disintegration or emotional separation.
BREAK IN ↑ Categories
Meaning: To enter illegally, to interrupt, to train someone new
"Someone broke in while we were on vacation."
"We need to break in the new employee gradually."
💡 Usage Tip:
Can mean burglary, interruption, or training new people.
BREAK INTO ↑ Categories
Meaning: To enter forcefully, to start suddenly, to succeed in entering a field
"She broke into tears when she heard the news."
"It's difficult to break into the film industry."
💡 Usage Tip:
Versatile: sudden start, forced entry, or career beginnings.
BREAK OUT ↑ Categories
Meaning: To escape, to start suddenly, to develop skin problems
"Three prisoners broke out of the jail last night."
"War broke out between the two countries."
💡 Usage Tip:
Used for escapes, sudden events, or skin conditions.
BREAK FREE ↑ Categories
Meaning: To escape from restraint, to become independent
"The horse broke free from its rope and ran away."
"She wants to break free from her family's expectations."
💡 Usage Tip:
Powerful expression for liberation from physical or mental constraints.
BREAK THROUGH ↑ Categories
Meaning: To overcome barriers, to make important progress
"Scientists broke through in cancer research this year."
"The sun broke through the clouds after the storm."
💡 Usage Tip:
Essential for achievements, discoveries, and overcoming obstacles.
BREAK OPEN ↑ Categories
Meaning: To force something open by breaking
"The firefighters had to break open the door to rescue the family."
"She broke open the package with scissors."
💡 Usage Tip:
Used when force is needed to open something.
BREAK NEW GROUND ↑ Categories
Meaning: To do something innovative or pioneering
"Her research is breaking new ground in artificial intelligence."
"The company broke new ground with their eco-friendly products."
💡 Usage Tip:
Perfect for describing innovation and pioneering work.
BREAK AWAY ↑ Categories
Meaning: To escape from control, to separate from a group
"The region wants to break away from the main country."
"She broke away from the crowd and walked home alone."
💡 Usage Tip:
Often used for political independence or personal liberation.
BREAK WITH ↑ Categories
Meaning: To end a relationship or tradition, to abandon old ways
"He decided to break with family tradition and study art."
"The company broke with its old business model."
💡 Usage Tip:
Important for discussing change and abandoning old practices.
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