Phrasal verbs involving “break” are commonly used in everyday English to describe actions related to separation, interruption, or division. Understanding these phrasal verbs will enhance your language skills. Here’s a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs using “break,” along with their meanings and examples.
Here is the list of 20 phrasal verbs with “Break”:
- Break away
- Break down
- Break into
- Break up
- Break out
- Break off
- Break through
- Break in
- Break apart
- Break with
- Break even
- Break free
- Break open
- Break loose
- Break one’s back
- Break the ice
- Break someone’s heart
- Break the bank
- Break ground
- Break new ground
Phrasal Verbs with “Break” and Their Meanings
Break Away
Meaning: To escape from someone or something holding you back.
Example: The prisoner tried to break away from the guards.
Break Down
Meaning: To stop functioning or to lose control emotionally.
Example: Her car broke down on the way to work.
Example: After hearing the sad news, she broke down in tears.
Break Into
Meaning: To enter a place by force, often illegally.
Example: The burglars broke into the house last night.
Break Up
Meaning: To end a relationship or separate into smaller pieces.
Example: Tom and Susan broke up after dating for five years.
Break Out
Meaning: To escape from confinement or to suddenly start something.
Example: Several prisoners broke out of jail.
Break Off
Meaning: To end or discontinue something abruptly.
Example: She broke off her engagement with John.
Break Through
Meaning: To overcome an obstacle or achieve a significant success.
Example: Scientists finally broke through the mystery of the disease.
Break In
Meaning: To force entry into a place or to wear something until it’s comfortable.
Example: I need to break in these new shoes before the marathon.
Break Apart
Meaning: To disintegrate or fall into pieces.
Example: The ship broke apart after hitting the rocks.
Break With
Meaning: To end a relationship or tradition.
Example: He broke with his family after the dispute.
Break Even
Meaning: To neither gain nor lose money.
Example: After the initial investment, the business finally broke even.
Break Free
Meaning: To escape from confinement or restraint.
Example: The hostage managed to break free from his captors.
Break Open
Meaning: To forcefully open something.
Example: The police broke open the door to rescue the children.
Break Loose
Meaning: To escape or become free from control.
Example: The lion broke loose from its cage.
Break One’s Back
Meaning: To put in a lot of hard work or effort.
Example: He broke his back to meet the deadline.
Break the Ice
Meaning: To start a conversation or make people feel more comfortable.
Example: She told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
Break Someone’s Heart
Meaning: To cause someone emotional pain.
Example: Leaving her broke his heart.
Break the Bank
Meaning: To cost a lot of money.
Example: The wedding almost broke the bank.
Break Ground
Meaning: To start a new construction project.
Example: They broke ground on the new shopping mall yesterday.
Break New Ground
Meaning: To do something innovative or unprecedented.
Example: The research team broke new ground in cancer treatment.
