- Many phrasal verbs with BREAK have multiple meanings depending on context.
- Some BREAK phrasal verbs are separable (break it down); others are not (break into something).
- "Break down" can mean mechanical failure, emotional collapse, or analytical division.
- "Break out" is always intransitive — it never takes a direct object.
- Nouns formed from phrasal verbs (a breakdown, a breakthrough, a breakaway) are usually written as one word.
Phrasal verbs are one of the most challenging aspects of English for learners, and the verb BREAK is particularly rich — it appears in dozens of common phrasal verbs, many with multiple and quite different meanings. The same two words, "break down," can describe a car stopping working, a person bursting into tears, or an analyst dividing data into categories.
This guide covers all the essential phrasal verbs with BREAK, grouped by particle, with clear definitions, natural examples, and guidance on separability.
1. Break Down
"Break down" is one of the most versatile phrasal verbs in English, with four distinct core meanings:
- Machine/system failure: "The photocopier has broken down again."
- Emotional collapse: "He broke down and wept when he heard the news."
- To analyse or categorise: "Let me break down the costs so we can see where the money is going."
- Negotiations/talks fail: "The ceasefire talks broke down over the question of territory."
The noun form is a breakdown: a nervous breakdown, a breakdown in communication, a car breakdown, a cost breakdown.
"Break down" is separable when it means to analyse: "Break the data down" or "Break down the data." When it means to stop working or to collapse emotionally, it is intransitive and cannot be separated.
2. Break Up
"Break up" also carries several meanings:
- End a romantic relationship: "They broke up after three years together."
- Separate into pieces: "The ship broke up on the rocks."
- Disperse a crowd or group: "Police were called to break up the fight."
- Schools: end for holidays: "School breaks up for summer on 18 July." (British English)
- Poor phone/radio signal: "You're breaking up — I can barely hear you."
3. Break Through
"Break through" means to pass through a barrier or overcome an obstacle:
- "The sun finally broke through the clouds at noon."
- "The troops broke through the enemy line at dawn."
- "She broke through the glass ceiling to become the first female director."
The noun breakthrough (one word) means a significant achievement: "a medical breakthrough," "a diplomatic breakthrough."
4. Break Out
"Break out" is always intransitive (no direct object) and means:
- Escape: "Two prisoners broke out of the high-security facility."
- Begin suddenly (fire, war, disease): "A fire broke out in the early hours of the morning." / "Fighting broke out along the border."
- Develop spots/rash: "She broke out in a rash after taking the antibiotic."
The noun outbreak refers to the sudden start of something, typically a disease or conflict: "an outbreak of measles."
5. Break Into
"Break into" requires an object and means:
- Enter illegally: "Burglars broke into the jeweller's overnight."
- Enter a new market/field: "The startup is trying to break into the US market."
- Start doing something suddenly: "The crowd broke into applause." / "He broke into a run."
6. Break Off
"Break off" means to end or separate something suddenly:
- "She broke off a piece of the biscuit." (separate physically)
- "The two countries broke off diplomatic relations." (end formally)
- "He broke off mid-sentence when his phone rang." (stop speaking suddenly)
7. More Phrasal Verbs with Break
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| break away | Escape from control; become independent | "She finally broke away from the toxic group." |
| break even | Make neither profit nor loss | "We expect to break even by Q3." |
| break in | Enter by force; interrupt; train/soften new equipment | "Someone broke in while we were on holiday." |
| break in on | Interrupt a conversation | "Sorry to break in on you, but we have a problem." |
| break with | End a relationship or tradition | "The party decided to break with its traditional policy." |
| break free | Escape from something holding you | "She finally broke free from years of self-doubt." |
| break ground | Begin construction; do something new | "The team is breaking new ground in quantum computing." |
8. Separable vs Inseparable Phrasal Verbs with Break
Understanding separability avoids grammar errors:
| Type | Phrasal verbs | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Separable | break down, break up, break off | Object can go between verb and particle: break the deal off / break off the deal. With pronouns, must separate: break it off. |
| Inseparable | break into, break through, break out of, break away from | Object must follow the particle: break into the house (never break the house into). |
Practise Phrasal Verbs with Break
Test your knowledge with LexFizz's free interactive exercises, including gap-fill and matching activities.
Start Practising →Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'break down' mean in English?
'Break down' has several meanings: (1) For machines/systems: to stop working — 'My car broke down on the motorway.' (2) For people: to lose emotional control, to cry — 'She broke down when she heard the news.' (3) To analyse or divide into parts — 'Let me break down the costs for you.' (4) For relationships or negotiations: to fail — 'The peace talks broke down after three days.'
What is the difference between 'break up' and 'break down'?
'Break up' typically refers to ending relationships (romantic or group) or separating into pieces: 'They broke up after two years together.' 'Break down' refers to mechanical failure, emotional collapse, or analytical division. Key difference: 'break up' suggests separation/ending, while 'break down' suggests failure, collapse, or detailed analysis.
What does 'break through' mean?
'Break through' means to pass through a barrier or obstacle, literally or figuratively: 'The sun broke through the clouds.' / 'She finally broke through the glass ceiling.' As a noun, 'a breakthrough' means a major achievement or discovery: 'Scientists made a breakthrough in cancer research.' Note the noun is written as one word.
What does 'break out' mean in English?
'Break out' means (1) to escape from a place — 'Three prisoners broke out of the high-security jail.' (2) For a disease or conflict to begin suddenly — 'A fire broke out in the kitchen.' (3) To develop a rash or spots on your skin — 'She broke out in hives after eating shellfish.' It is always intransitive (no direct object) in these meanings.
What does 'break into' mean?
'Break into' means (1) to enter a building illegally — 'Burglars broke into the shop overnight.' (2) To enter a new market or field — 'The company is trying to break into the Asian market.' (3) To suddenly start doing something — 'He broke into a run when he saw the bus.' (4) To interrupt — 'I'm sorry to break into your conversation, but...'
What does 'break off' mean?
'Break off' means (1) to separate a piece from something — 'She broke off a piece of chocolate.' (2) To end something suddenly — 'They broke off the engagement.' / 'The company broke off negotiations.' (3) To stop speaking mid-sentence — 'He broke off mid-sentence when she walked in.' It is separable: 'She broke a piece off' is also correct.
What does 'break even' mean in business English?
'Break even' means to reach a point where income exactly equals expenditure — neither making a profit nor a loss. Example: 'The restaurant expects to break even by the end of the first year.' The noun 'break-even point' refers to the exact sales volume at which this happens: 'Our break-even point is 500 units per month.'
Which phrasal verbs with break are separable?
Separable phrasal verbs with break include: break something down, break something off, break something up. Inseparable ones include: break into (something), break through (something), break out of (something). With pronouns, always use the separable position: 'break it down', never 'break down it'.
How do I use 'break away' correctly?
'Break away' means to escape from a controlling situation or group, or to leave and become independent. Examples: 'She finally broke away from the controlling relationship.' / 'Several regions are trying to break away from the central government.' In sport, it means to move ahead of the group suddenly. The noun form is 'a breakaway': 'a breakaway group', 'a breakaway goal'.
What is the difference between 'break in' and 'break into'?
'Break in' is intransitive and means to enter by force (without specifying the location) or to interrupt: 'Someone broke in last night.' / 'Sorry to break in, but we're out of time.' 'Break into' requires an object: 'Someone broke into our office last night.' In everyday speech, 'break in' is often used without the location when context is clear.