All Definitions for Break
Below are all the dictionary definitions of break:
1To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
2To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.
3To divide (something, often money) into smaller units.
4To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will
5To crush the spirits of.
6To turn an animal into a beast of burden.
7To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief.
8To interrupt
9To destroy the continuity of
10To dissolve or terminate.
11To end the run of (a play).
12To ruin financially.
13Of prices on the stock exchange: to fall suddenly.
14To violate
15To fail to adhere to.
16To go down, in terms of temperature, indicating that the most dangerous part of the illness has passed.
17To end.
18To begin or end.
19To arrive.
20To render (a game) unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses in them in a way that gives a player an unfair advantage.
21To stop, or to cause to stop, functioning properly or altogether.
22To cause (some feature of a program or piece of software) to stop functioning properly
23To cause a regression.
24To cause (a barrier) to no longer bar.
25To cause the shell of (an egg) to crack, so that the inside (yolk) is accessible.
26To open (a safe) without using the correct key, combination, or the like.
27To destroy the arrangement of
28To throw into disorder
29To pierce.
30To collapse into surf, after arriving in shallow water.
31To burst forth
32To make its way
33To come into view.
34To interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily
35To go on break.
36To interrupt (a fall) by inserting something so that the falling object does not (immediately) hit something else beneath.
37To disclose or make known an item of news, a band, etc.
38To become audible suddenly.
39To change a steady state abruptly.
40To (attempt to) disengage and flee to
41To make a run for.
42To suddenly become.
43To become deeper at puberty.
44To alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men, generally to go up, in women, sometimes to go down
45To crack.
46To de-emulsify.
47To surpass or do better than (a specific number)
48To do better than (a record), setting a new record.
49:
50To win a game (against one's opponent) as receiver.
51To make the first shot
52To scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.
53To remove one of the two men on (a point).
54To demote
55To reduce the military rank of.
56To end (a connection)
57To disconnect.
58To counter-attack.
59To become weakened in constitution or faculties
60To lose health or strength.
61To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of.
62To destroy the official character and standing of
63To cashier
64To dismiss.
65To make an abrupt or sudden change
66To change gait.
67To terminate the execution of a program before normal completion.
68To suspend the execution of a program during debugging so that the state of the program can be investigated.
69To cause, or allow the occurrence of, a line break.
70An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
71A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
72An interruption of continuity
73Departure from or rupture with.
74A rest or pause, usually from work.
75A time for students to talk or play between lessons.
76A scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction
77A holiday.
78A short holiday.
79A temporary split with a romantic partner.
80An interval or intermission between two parts of a performance, for example a theatre show, broadcast, or sports game.
81A significant change in circumstance, attitude, perception, or focus of attention.
82A sudden fall in prices on the stock exchange.
83The beginning (of the morning).
84An act of escaping.
85The separation between lines, paragraphs or pages of a written text.
86A keystroke or other signal that causes a program to terminate or suspend execution.
87A change, particularly the end of a spell of persistent good or bad weather.
88:
89A game won by the receiving player(s).
90The first shot in a game of billiards.
91The number of points scored by one player in one visit to the table.
92The counter-attack.
93The curve imparted to the ball's motion on the green due to slope or grass texture.
94A place where waves break (that is, where waves pitch or spill forward creating white water).
95The start of a horse race.
96The opening of packages of cards for a collectible card game, often for further distribution to paying customers.
97A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.
98A sharp bit or snaffle.
99A short section of music, often between verses, in which some performers stop while others continue.
100The point in the musical scale at which a woodwind instrument is designed to overblow, that is, to move from its lower to its upper register.
101The transition area between a singer's vocal registers
102The passaggio.
103An area along a river that features steep banks, bluffs, or gorges (e.g., Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, US).
104A section of extended repetition of the percussion break to a song, created by a hip-hop DJ as rhythmic dance music.
105To B-boy
106To breakdance.
107To fail in business
108To go broke, to become bankrupt.
109To lay open, as a purpose
110To disclose, divulge, or communicate.
111To fall out
112To terminate friendship.
113An error.
114To brake.
115Alternative form of brake (“cart or carriage without a body, for breaking in horses”) [A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or aerodynamic drag, can also be used)
116Also, the controls or apparatus used to engage such a mechanism such as the pedal in a car.]
117Ellipsis of breakpoint. [(programming) A point in a program at which operation may be interrupted during debugging so that the state of the program at that point can be investigated.]
About synonyms for break
Finding the right synonym for break helps writers avoid repetition and add precision to their work. Defined as "To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.", break has 11 alternatives that can fit different contexts and tones.
Each synonym carries a slightly different shade of meaning. Prisonbreak is the most direct replacement in most situations. Gaolbreak works well in formal or professional contexts. Breakout is often preferred when the context calls for a more specific or nuanced expression.
When choosing a synonym, consider the connotation, formality level, and audience. Some alternatives work better in casual conversation while others shine in academic or professional writing. For example, using a more formal synonym in a business email can elevate your tone, while a casual synonym might feel more natural in creative writing or dialogue.
It is also worth noting that not all synonyms are perfectly interchangeable. The context of your sentence, the surrounding words, and the intended emotional impact all play a role in selecting the best alternative. The list above provides the most common and useful replacements for break, but always read your sentence aloud to ensure the chosen word flows naturally.