A1 verb Neutral #176 most common

break

/breɪk/

To separate into pieces suddenly or violently, especially as a result of a blow or shock. It also refers to a device or machine stopping its function or failing to follow a rule.

Examples

3 of 5
1

Be careful not to break the glass on the table.

Do not shatter the drinking glass.

2

The defendant was accused of trying to break the law.

The person tried to disobey the legal rules.

3

If you drop your phone, you might break the screen.

The screen might crack or stop working.

Word Family

Noun
break
Verb
break
Adjective
breakable
Related
breakage
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Memory Tip

Think of the sound 'b-r-e-a-k' as something snapping in half like a dry stick.

Quick Quiz

If you are tired, you should ____ for a few minutes.

Correct!

The correct answer is: break

Examples

1

Be careful not to break the glass on the table.

everyday

Do not shatter the drinking glass.

2

The defendant was accused of trying to break the law.

formal

The person tried to disobey the legal rules.

3

If you drop your phone, you might break the screen.

informal

The screen might crack or stop working.

4

Data suggests that these particles break the standard model of physics.

academic

The particles do not follow the expected rules.

5

We aim to break our quarterly sales record by ten percent.

business

We want to exceed our previous best performance.

Word Family

Noun
break
Verb
break
Adjective
breakable
Related
breakage

Common Collocations

break a bone to fracture a part of the skeleton
break a promise to not do what you said you would do
break the ice to start a conversation in a social setting
break a habit to stop doing something you do regularly
break the news to tell someone important information

Common Phrases

break a leg

good luck

take a break

to rest for a short time

break even

to make neither a profit nor a loss

Often Confused With

break vs brake

Brake is used for stopping a vehicle, while break means to shatter or pause.

break vs broke

Broke is the past tense of break, but can also mean having no money.

📝

Usage Notes

Break is an irregular verb. It can be used physically (breaking a vase) or metaphorically (breaking a heart or a rule).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use the regular ending 'breaked' instead of the correct irregular past tense 'broke'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the sound 'b-r-e-a-k' as something snapping in half like a dry stick.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old English 'brecan', which means to shatter, burst, or tame.

Grammar Patterns

Irregular verb: break (present), broke (past), broken (past participle) Can be used transitively: 'I broke the cup' Can be used intransitively: 'The cup broke'
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Cultural Context

'Break a leg' is a very common idiom in English-speaking theater culture used to wish performers good luck.

Quick Quiz

If you are tired, you should ____ for a few minutes.

Correct!

The correct answer is: break

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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