Practice
Phrasal verbs with break: meanings and examples
When a bus breaks down, it stops working. When a teacher breaks down a difficult idea, the teacher explains it in smaller parts. The particle and the sentence around it tell you which meaning is intended.
Choose a common phrasal verb with break by matching the particle to the meaning the sentence needs.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
break down /breɪk daʊn/
The short answer
Choose the particle by meaning. Use break down for a machine that stops working or an explanation in parts, break into for entering by force, break out for a sudden start, break up for an ending or separation, and break away for leaving a group or place.
The manager broke down the new safety rule into three short steps.
Why it works: Broke down means explained the rule by dividing it into easier parts.
6 more examples
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Our old washing machine broke down during the weekend.
The machine stopped working.
Not this:Our old washing machine was
movedto the garage during the weekend. What changes: Moving a machine does not say that it stopped working. -
The tutor broke the grammar rule down with two clear examples.
Here, break down means explain something in smaller, easier parts.
Not this:The tutor
repeatedthe grammar rule with two clear examples. What changes: Repeated means said the rule again, not divided the explanation into parts. -
Someone broke into the store after it had closed.
Broke into means entered a building by force or without permission.
Not this:Someone
enteredthe store through the front door before it closed. What changes: The contrast describes ordinary entry, not forced or unauthorized entry. -
A small fire broke out near the kitchen door.
Broke out means started suddenly.
Not this:A small fire was
reportednear the kitchen door. What changes: Reported tells us that someone gave information about the fire, not that the fire began. -
The students broke up into pairs for the speaking task.
Broke up means separated into smaller groups.
Not this:The students
satin pairs for the speaking task. What changes: Sitting in pairs describes the arrangement but not the action of separating from one group. -
One cyclist broke away from the group on the last hill.
Broke away means left a group and moved separately.
Not this:One cyclist
slowed downnear the group on the last hill. What changes: Slowing down does not necessarily mean leaving the group.
Read the full guide
Ask what happens in the sentence before you choose a particle. A car that cannot move has broken down. A fire that starts suddenly has broken out. A person who leaves a group has broken away. The complete phrase gives you the useful meaning.
Read break and its particle together
A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle. The particle changes the meaning you need to understand. With break, read the full phrase before you decide what the sentence says.
The printer broke down just before the meeting.
Broke down means stopped working. It does not mean that the printer was physically broken into pieces.
Does break down describe a machine that works or a machine that has stopped working?
It describes a machine that has stopped working.
Use break down for failure or explanation
Use break down when a machine or system stops working. You can also use it when someone explains a large idea in smaller parts. The object shows which meaning you need.
Please break the instructions down into short steps.
The instructions are divided into easier parts. This use is different from a machine failure.
Complete the sentence: The mechanic will call when the car has ___.
Use broken down: The mechanic will call when the car has broken down.
Use break into for forced entry
Break into usually means enter a place by force or without permission. It often has a building, car, or account after into. This phrase is different from ordinary entry through an open door.
The police said that someone had broken into the parked car.
The person entered without permission. The phrase does not describe a visit or an invitation.
Choose the phrase for unauthorized entry: break into or break out?
Use break into. It describes entering a place by force or without permission.
Use break out when something starts suddenly
Use break out when a fire, fight, disease, or similar event starts suddenly. The event is the subject. You do not normally put an object between break and out in this meaning.
Laughter broke out when the speaker told a funny story.
The laughter started suddenly. It was not an attempt to leave a place.
Complete the sentence: A fight ___ after the final whistle.
Use broke out: A fight broke out after the final whistle.
Use break up and break away for separation
Use break up when a relationship, meeting, or larger group ends or separates. Use break away when a person or smaller group leaves and becomes separate from a larger group. The direction of the separation matters.
After the presentation, the audience broke up into small discussion groups.
The audience separated into smaller groups. A runner who leaves the group would break away instead.
Which phrase fits a runner who leaves the pack during a race?
Use break away. The runner separates from the larger group.
Before you go
Remember this
Read break with its particle. Break down can mean stop working or explain in parts. Break into means enter by force. Break out means start suddenly. Break up means end or separate, and break away means leave a group. Check the object and situation before you choose.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Phrasal verbs with break: meanings and examples"
What is a phrasal verb with break?
A phrasal verb with break combines break with a particle such as down, into, out, up, or away. The particle changes the meaning, so learn the complete phrase. For example, break down can describe a failed machine, while break out can describe a sudden start.
Our old washing machine broke down during the weekend.
What does break down mean?
Break down can mean that a machine or system stops working. It can also mean explain something by dividing it into smaller parts. Read the noun and the situation. A washing machine can break down, while a teacher can break down a difficult grammar rule.
Our old washing machine was moved to the garage during the weekend.
What does break into mean?
Break into usually means enter a building, car, or other place by force or without permission. The phrase often appears in reports about a crime. It differs from ordinary entry because it includes the idea of unauthorized or forced access.
The tutor broke the grammar rule down with two clear examples.
What does break out mean?
Break out means start suddenly. It can describe a fire, fight, disease, laughter, or similar event. The event itself is the subject of the sentence. Use the surrounding words to see what started, rather than looking at break alone.
The tutor repeated the grammar rule with two clear examples.
What is the difference between break up and break away?
Break up means end or separate, often for a relationship, meeting, or group. Break away means leave a larger group and become separate from it. A class can break up into pairs, while one cyclist can break away from the other riders.
Someone broke into the store after it had closed.