# break up with sb

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/break-up-with-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to end a romantic relationship with someone.

For teachers: to terminate a romantic partnership or relationship; intransitive usage is common, but when transitive, it requires the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- I think I need to break up with him.
- After dating for three years, they decided to break up with each other because they wanted different things.
- She finally found the courage to break up with her partner after realizing their long-term goals were no longer compatible.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She broke up her boyfriend." but "She broke up with her boyfriend." — without 'with', the phrase 'break up' can mean to physically destroy something or to stop a fight.

## Usage notes

- always followed by 'with' when the partner is mentioned as the object.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'split up', which is a near-synonym, and 'dump', which is much more informal and implies a one-sided, unkind ending.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.