Phrasal verb
break down
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
break down
Past
broke down
Past participle
broken down
Definition
phrasal verb. to stop working because of a mechanical problem. You can also use this when someone gets very upset and starts to cry.
phrasal verb. to cease functioning due to mechanical failure; the verb is intransitive in this sense. It also refers to a sudden loss of emotional composure or the failure of a formal process.
Examples
“Our washing machine broke down yesterday.”
“After driving for five hours, the engine began to smoke and the car finally broke down on a quiet country road.”
“The diplomatic talks broke down late last night as neither side was willing to concede on the fundamental issue of territorial sovereignty.”
Examples
simple
“Our washing machine broke down yesterday.”
contextual
“After driving for five hours, the engine began to smoke and the car finally broke down on a quiet country road.”
complex
“The diplomatic talks broke down late last night as neither side was willing to concede on the fundamental issue of territorial sovereignty.”
Usage
This phrase is intransitive when it means a machine stops working or a person starts crying.
Teaching tip
Contrast this intransitive use with the transitive sense of 'breaking down' a complex problem into smaller parts.
Pitfall
The car was broken down.
The car broke down.
This phrasal verb is intransitive and should not be used in the passive voice to describe a mechanical failure.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
break + down
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/break-down