Break up
volume
British pronunciation/bɹˈeɪk ˈʌp/
American pronunciation/bɹˈeɪk ˈʌp/

Definition & Meaning of "break up"

to break up
[phrase form: break]
01

to end a relationship, typically a romantic or sexual one

Intransitive: to break up | to break up with sb
to break up definition and meaning
example
Example
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He decided to break up after she moved away for college.
I immediately broke up with my boyfriend when I found out that he was cheating on me.
She had to break up with him because they wanted different things.
02

to become separated into pieces

Intransitive
to break up definition and meaning
example
Example
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The glass vase fell off the table and broke up into many sharp shards.
When the earthquake struck, the old bridge began to break up, posing a danger to passing vehicles.
Over time, the waves and erosion caused the rocky cliff to break up into smaller stones.
03

to put an end to a gathering and cause people to go in different directions

Transitive: to break up a crowd or group activity
example
Example
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The teacher had to break up the heated argument between the students in the classroom.
As the storm approached, the lifeguard had to break up the beach party for safety reasons.
The police were called to break up the large crowd that had gathered for the unpermitted street event.
04

(of a gathering or meeting) to be concluded, with individuals going their separate ways

Intransitive
example
Example
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The festival will break up with a fireworks display.
The meeting will break up around 4:00 PM.
After the awards ceremony, the audience will break up.
05

to cause something to be separated into pieces

Transitive: to break up sth
example
Example
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The chef will break the cheese up into grated portions.
Can you break up the branches for easier disposal?
He broke up the ice into smaller cubes for the drinks.
06

to make something disappear by mixing it into a liquid

Transitive: to break up a substance
example
Example
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The detergent is designed to help break up the oils and fats in water.
The enzyme helps to break up complex molecules into simpler forms.
Add vinegar to break up the mineral deposits in the coffee machine.
07

to intervene and stop a physical or verbal fight between individuals

Transitive: to break up a fight or people fighting
example
Example
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Break the kids up before the disagreement escalates.
The referee broke the players up during the soccer match.
The bouncer had to break up a brawl at the nightclub.
08

to break something with force, often producing a loud sound

Transitive: to break up sth
example
Example
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He accidentally broke the vase up while cleaning the shelves.
The strong gust of wind broke up the old tree branch, causing it to fall to the ground.
The explosion broke up the boulders, scattering debris in all directions.
09

to start laughing really hard

Transitive: to break up sb
example
Example
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The unexpected comment from the child broke everyone up.
The sitcom's clever writing has a way of breaking viewers up.
She breaks me up with her hilarious anecdotes!
10

(of schools) to close for a holiday

Intransitive
example
Example
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Students look forward to when schools break up for the summer.
Parents plan family vacations around when schools break up.
The decision to break up for a longer holiday was well-received.
11

(of a connection or association) to end due to the separation of those involved

Intransitive
example
Example
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The business collaboration broke up without any prior warning.
The deal broke up unexpectedly, causing disappointment.
The alliance broke up as conflicting interests became irreconcilable.
12

to strike with force using a tool such as a pickaxe, typically on icy or rocky surfaces

Transitive: to break up ice or rock
example
Example
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The workers needed to break the ice up to clear the pathway.
He decided to break the rocks up to gather materials for construction.
She used a hammer to break the concrete block up into smaller pieces.
13

(of an iceberg or glacier) to break and release smaller pieces of ice

Intransitive
example
Example
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During the thaw, the icy crust on the mountain began to break up, revealing bare rock.
In certain conditions, frozen lakes can suddenly break up, creating a spectacle of moving ice masses.
The Arctic sea ice tends to break up during the summer months, forming navigable channels.
14

to divide a particular thing into several smaller parts or entities

Intransitive
example
Example
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They decided to break up the project into manageable sections.
The task was broken up into simpler steps for clarity.
To improve circulation, it 's important to break up long periods of sitting with short walks or stretches.
15

to experience extreme stress leading to a nervous breakdown

Intransitive
example
Example
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A healthy work-life balance is vital to avoid breaking up due to stress.
Strong social support can prevent individuals from breaking up in difficult times.
Personal well-being is crucial to avoid breaking up under pressure.
16

to have trouble talking or seeing clearly because of a weak or unstable signal

Intransitive
example
Example
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The live stream broke up during the heavy downpour.
Video calls often break up in areas with weak internet connections.
The airplane 's altitude caused the Wi-Fi signal to break up.
17

to add something interesting to make an activity or situation less boring

Transitive: to break up a boring activity or situation
example
Example
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The music festival was a great way to break up the long winter months and add some excitement to our lives.
We decided to take a short trip to the beach to break up the long summer months.
They successfully broke up the long conference with engaging speakers.
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