30 Phrasal Verbs using BREAK with Meanings and Sentences
Phrasal verbs are an important part of everyday English, and the verb “break” is used in many common and useful phrasal verbs.
These phrasal verbs often have meanings that are different from the base verb, which can be confusing for English learners.
Learning phrasal verbs with “break” helps learners understand real spoken English and communicate more naturally.
This blog post, “30 Phrasal Verbs Using ‘BREAK’ with Meanings and Sentences,” is specially created for students, beginners, and ESL learners.
In this post, you will learn frequently used BREAK phrasal verbs, along with their simple meanings and clear example sentences, to help you use them confidently in daily English.
Break down
Meaning: To stop functioning or to collapse.
Sentence: The car broke down on the highway, so we had to call for a tow truck.
Break up
Meaning: To end a relationship or to divide into parts.
Sentence: They decided to break up after three years of dating.
Break into
Meaning: To enter a place forcibly or to start doing something suddenly.
Sentence: The thieves broke into the house through a window.
Break out
Meaning: To escape from a place or to start suddenly (like a fire).
Sentence: A fire broke out in the kitchen while we were having dinner.
Break off
Meaning: To separate or detach something.
Sentence: She broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to me.
Break through
Meaning: To make a sudden advance or overcome an obstacle.
Sentence: The scientists finally broke through the barrier in their research.
Break away
Meaning: To separate from a group or to escape.
Sentence: The horse broke away from the stable and ran free in the field.
Break in
Meaning: To enter a building illegally or to interrupt.
Sentence: He broke in during the meeting to give his urgent message.
Break even
Meaning: To make no profit and no loss.
Sentence: After all the expenses, the company just managed to break even.
Break up with
Meaning: To end a romantic relationship with someone.
Sentence: She decided to break up with her boyfriend after months of disagreements.
Break the news
Meaning: To inform someone of something, often something significant.
Sentence: He had to break the news to her that her flight had been canceled.
Break in on
Meaning: To interrupt a conversation or activity.
Sentence: Sorry to break in on your discussion, but I have some important information.
Break the ice
Meaning: To do or say something to relieve tension or get a conversation going.
Sentence: Telling a funny story is a great way to break the ice at a party.
Break with
Meaning: To end a relationship or association with someone or something.
Sentence: She decided to break with her old habits and start a new lifestyle.
Break into tears
Meaning: To suddenly start crying.
Sentence: When she heard the sad news, she broke into tears immediately.
Break up the monotony
Meaning: To make something less dull or repetitive.
Sentence: Adding some music can help break up the monotony of a long workday.
Break a habit
Meaning: To stop doing something that has become a habit.
Sentence: It’s difficult to break a habit, but it’s possible with determination.
Break ground
Meaning: To begin a new project or venture.
Sentence: The construction team will break ground on the new building next week.
Break the mold
Meaning: To do something differently from what is expected.
Sentence: Her innovative approach to the problem really broke the mold.
Break a record
Meaning: To surpass a previously set record.
Sentence: She broke the world record for the 100-meter sprint.
Break one’s back
Meaning: To work extremely hard.
Sentence: He broke his back working on the project to meet the deadline.
Break a promise
Meaning: To fail to keep a promise.
Sentence: Breaking a promise can damage trust in a relationship.
Break one’s fall
Meaning: To stop oneself from falling or to lessen the impact of a fall.
Sentence: He used his hands to break his fall when he tripped.
Break new ground
Meaning: To do something innovative or pioneering.
Sentence: The company’s new technology is breaking new ground in the industry.
Break someone’s heart
Meaning: To cause someone emotional pain.
Sentence: He was afraid that breaking up would break her heart.
Break a sweat
Meaning: To exert physical effort or to begin sweating.
Sentence: She didn’t even break a sweat during the easy workout.
Break down barriers
Meaning: To overcome obstacles or difficulties.
Sentence: The new policy helped break down barriers between departments.
Break even point
Meaning: The point at which total revenues equal total costs.
Sentence: The startup needs to reach the break-even point before it can turn a profit.
Break one’s spirit
Meaning: To crush someone’s enthusiasm or determination.
Sentence: The constant setbacks did not break his spirit.
Break the bank
Meaning: To spend more money than one can afford.
Sentence: The vacation was beautiful but it almost broke the bank.
Conclusion:
Phrasal verbs with “break” are widely used in everyday conversations and informal English.
By learning their meanings and practicing them in sentences, you can improve your fluency and understanding of natural English.
Regular practice will help you use these phrasal verbs confidently in real-life situations.
