# break

/ˈbɹeɪk/ (US) · /bɹˈeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/break
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to damage or fracture

verb · CEFR A1

to separate something into two or more pieces, often by accident.

For teachers: to cause a physical object to separate into pieces or to fracture, typically through force or impact.

- Be careful not to break that glass vase while you are cleaning the shelf.
- The impact was strong enough to break the ceramic casing, scattering shards across the laboratory floor.

### 2. to stop working

verb · CEFR A2

to stop functioning correctly.

For teachers: to cease to function properly due to mechanical or electronic failure.

- My old washing machine finally decided to break right before the weekend.
- If the cooling system were to break during the experiment, the entire batch of chemicals would be ruined.

### 3. to fail to follow a rule

verb · CEFR A2

to do something that is not allowed by a law or a rule.

For teachers: to violate or fail to observe a law, agreement, or regulation.

- You should never break the speed limit, even if you are in a hurry.
- The company was fined heavily after investigators discovered they had chosen to break several environmental regulations over the last decade.

### 4. to tell news

verb · CEFR B2

to be the first person to tell someone important or surprising news.

For teachers: to disclose or make known a piece of news or information for the first time.

- I had to break the news to him that the flight was cancelled.
- The journalist worked through the night to ensure her agency would be the first to break the story of the merger.

### 5. to exceed a record

verb · CEFR B1

to do something better or faster than the previous best result.

For teachers: to surpass a previously established numerical record or limit.

- The young athlete managed to break the world record for the 100-metre sprint.
- Economists predict that inflation will break the five-percent barrier before the end of the fiscal quarter.

### 6. a rest or pause

noun · CEFR A1

a short period of time when you stop working or studying to rest.

For teachers: a temporary cessation of activity or work intended for rest or refreshment.

- Let's take a ten-minute break and get some coffee before we finish the project.
- The schedule allows for a brief lunch break between the morning keynote and the afternoon workshops.

### 7. a physical fracture

noun · CEFR B1

a place where something has cracked or separated into pieces.

For teachers: a physical separation or fracture in an object or a bone.

- The X-ray showed a clean break in his arm that would take weeks to heal.
- The engineer identified a microscopic break in the fuel line that had caused the pressure to drop.

### 8. a lucky chance

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a sudden piece of good luck that helps you succeed.

For teachers: a sudden stroke of luck or a favourable opportunity, especially in one's career.

- She finally got her big break when a famous director saw her perform in a small play.
- After years of struggling in the tech industry, his big break came when a venture capitalist invested in his startup.

### 9. music/dance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short part of a song where the singing stops and the drums or instruments play alone.

For teachers: a short instrumental or percussion solo within a musical composition, often used as a transition.

- The crowd started dancing wildly during the drum break in the middle of the track.
- The DJ looped the percussion break to create a rhythmic foundation for the dancers to showcase their skills.

### 10. to breakdance

verb · CEFR B2 · Slang

to perform a style of street dance with athletic moves.

For teachers: to perform breakdancing, a style of acrobatic street dance.

- He learned how to break by watching videos of street performers in the city.
- The competition featured several crews who had travelled across the country to break for the national title.

## Examples

- Let's take a short break.
- The students play outside during their morning break.
- After three hours of intense negotiation, the diplomats agreed to a brief break to consult with their respective governments before reconvening.

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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.