Phrasal Verbs with “Break”

Phrasal Verbs with “Break” – Meanings and Examples for Advanced English Learners

Phrasal verbs can be tricky, but they’re also the spice that makes English sound natural. The verb “break” is particularly versatile — it pops up in dozens of expressions, many of which have nothing to do with physically smashing something! Phrasal Verbs with “Break”

In this post, we will explore common phrasal verbs with “break”, their meanings, and plenty of examples so you can see them in action. These are useful for Cambridge exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced), academic writing, and everyday conversation.

Break down

Meaning 1: (machine/vehicle) to stop working.

• My car broke down on the motorway, and I had to call for a tow truck.
• The washing machine broke down right after the warranty expired.

Meaning 2: (person) to lose control emotionally.

• She broke down in tears when she heard the bad news.
• After hours of questioning, the suspect finally broke down and confessed.

Break into

Meaning 1: (enter illegally) to enter a building by force.

• Thieves broke into the house while the owners were away.
• Someone tried to break into my car last night.

Meaning 2: to start doing something suddenly.

• He broke into song halfway through the meeting.
• When the joke finally landed, the whole room broke into laughter.

Break out

Meaning 1: (escape) to escape from a place.

• Two prisoners broke out of jail using a small tunnel.
• Several animals broke out of the zoo during the storm.

Meaning 2: (start suddenly — often something unpleasant like war, fire, disease)

• A fire broke out in the kitchen after the oil caught fire.
• War broke out between the neighbouring countries.

Break up

Meaning 1: (relationship) to end a romantic relationship.

• They broke up after three years together.
• She broke up with her boyfriend last month.

Meaning 2: (disperse) to stop a gathering or event.

• The police broke up the demonstration before it turned violent.
• The meeting finally broke up at midnight.

Meaning 3: (school) To close for a holiday.

• Schools usually break up for summer in mid-July.
• We break up for the Christmas holidays next week.

Break in

Meaning 1: to interrupt someone while they are speaking.

• Sorry to break in, but can I ask a quick question?
• The news anchor broke in to report the breaking news.

Meaning 2: to wear/use something new until comfortable.

• It took me a few days to break in my new shoes.
• You’ll need to break in the leather jacket before it feels soft.

Break off

Meaning 1: to end suddenly — talks, agreements, relationships.

• The two countries broke off diplomatic relations after the incident.
• She broke off the engagement two months before the wedding.

Meaning 2: to separate a part from the whole.

• He broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to me.
• She broke off a branch to use as a walking stick.

Break through

Meaning 1: to force your way through a barrier.

• The protesters broke through the police cordon.
• The explorers finally broke through the thick jungle.

Meaning 2: to achieve success after a struggle.

• The scientist broke through in her research after years of setbacks.
• He broke through as an actor after starring in that TV drama.

Break away

Meaning 1: to separate from a group.

• The small republic broke away from the larger federation.
• She broke away from the crowd and ran towards the exit.

Meaning 2: to escape from someone’s hold.

• The child broke away from his mother and ran into the street.
• He broke away from the guards and fled the scene.

Break out of

Meaning: to escape from a situation or place.

• She broke out of her routine by travelling abroad.
• The prisoner broke out of his cell during the night.

Break with

Meaning: to end association with someone/something.

• He broke with tradition and wore a green suit to his wedding.
• The artist broke with his old gallery after a dispute over money.

Final Tips for Learners

• Notice how many “break” phrasal verbs are metaphorical.
• The same phrasal verb can have multiple meanings — context is everything.
• They often appear in idioms (“break the news”, “break the bank”), which are also worth learning.

💬 Your Turn: Try writing 5 sentences using at least 3 different “break” phrasal verbs from this list. Share them in the comments or with your study group — and see if others can guess the meanings from context!

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge:

Phrasal verbs with “break”

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