break
terminate
How often you will meet it
Rank 858 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 21,401 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.010% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- terminate also: interrupt She interrupted her pregnancybreak a lucky streak
- become separated into pieces or fragments also: separate, split up, fall apart, come apart The figurine brokeThe freshly baked loaf fell apart
- render inoperable or ineffective You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!
- ruin completely also: bust He busted my radio!
- destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments He broke the glass plateShe broke the match
- act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises also: transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach offend all laws of humanityviolate the basic laws or human civilization
break in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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He was stirring busily before the break of dawn.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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If either plight ye keep, then ye break the other troth.
John Marr and Other Poems · Herman Melville · Chapter 1
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For many a league, for many a weary mile, We've trudged along since break of day began.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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This last insinuation proved sufficient to break up the perfect accord that had hitherto existed among all the creditors.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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Every evening he put up a fight, for the wily youngster always thought that by obstinate resistance he could break the rule.
Cornelli · Johanna Spyri · Chapter 1