Synonyms for break

Synonyms for (noun) break

Synonyms: jailbreak, prison-breaking, prisonbreak, break, breakout, gaolbreak

Definition: an escape from jail

Usage: the breakout was carefully planned

Similar words: escape, flight

Definition: the act of escaping physically

Usage: he made his escape from the mental hospital; the canary escaped from its cage; his flight was an indication of his guilt


Synonyms: break, open frame

Definition: any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare

Usage: the break in the eighth frame cost him the match

Similar words: score

Definition: the act of scoring in a game or sport

Usage: the winning score came with less than a minute left to play


Synonyms: break

Definition: a sudden dash

Usage: he made a break for the open door

Similar words: dash, sprint

Definition: a quick run


Synonyms: break, breakage, breaking

Definition: the act of breaking something

Usage: the breakage was unavoidable

Similar words: change of integrity

Definition: the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something


Synonyms: gap, interruption, disruption, break

Definition: an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

Usage: it was presented without commercial breaks; there was a gap in his account

Similar words: delay, holdup

Definition: the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time


Synonyms: break, break of serve

Definition: (tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving

Usage: he was up two breaks in the second set

Similar words: score

Definition: the act of scoring in a game or sport

Usage: the winning score came with less than a minute left to play


Synonyms: break

Definition: the opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool

Similar words: stroke, shot

Definition: (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand

Usage: it took two strokes to get out of the bunker; a good shot requires good balance and tempo; he left me an almost impossible shot


Synonyms: recess, respite, time out, break

Definition: a pause from doing something (as work)

Usage: we took a 10-minute break; he took time out to recuperate

Similar words: pause

Definition: temporary inactivity


Synonyms: break

Definition: an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)

Usage: then there was a break in her voice

Similar words: change, modification, alteration

Definition: an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

Usage: the change was intended to increase sales; this storm is certainly a change for the worse; the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago


Synonyms: breach, break, rift, severance, rupture, falling out

Definition: a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)

Usage: they hoped to avoid a break in relations

Similar words: detachment, separation, breakup

Definition: coming apart


Synonyms: break, happy chance, good luck

Definition: an unexpected piece of good luck

Usage: he finally got his big break

Similar words: accident, chance event, stroke, fortuity

Definition: anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause

Usage: winning the lottery was a happy accident; the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck; it was due to an accident or fortuity


Synonyms: break

Definition: the occurrence of breaking

Usage: the break in the dam threatened the valley

Similar words: detachment, separation, breakup

Definition: coming apart


Synonyms: break, interruption

Definition: some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity

Usage: the telephone is an annoying interruption; there was a break in the action when a player was hurt

Similar words: natural event, occurrence, occurrent, happening

Definition: an event that happens


Synonyms: fault, faulting, fracture, geological fault, break, shift

Definition: (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other

Usage: they built it right over a geological fault; he studied the faulting of the earth's crust

Similar words: crack, crevice, scissure, cleft, fissure

Definition: a long narrow opening


Synonyms: break, fracture

Definition: breaking of hard tissue such as bone

Usage: it was a nasty fracture; the break seems to have been caused by a fall

Similar words: trauma, hurt, injury, harm

Definition: any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.


Synonyms: pause, break, intermission, interruption, suspension

Definition: a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

Similar words: time interval, interval

Definition: a definite length of time marked off by two instants


Synonyms for (verb) break

Synonyms: break

Definition: weaken or destroy in spirit or body

Usage: His resistance was broken; a man broken by the terrible experience of near-death

Similar words: weaken

Definition: lessen the strength of

Usage: The fever weakened his body


Synonyms: break

Definition: diminish or discontinue abruptly

Usage: The patient's fever broke last night

Similar words: fall, lessen, diminish, decrease

Definition: decrease in size, extent, or range

Usage: The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester; The cabin pressure fell dramatically; her weight fell to under a hundred pounds; his voice fell to a whisper


Synonyms: break, fracture

Definition: fracture a bone of

Usage: I broke my foot while playing hockey

Similar words: wound, injure

Definition: cause injuries or bodily harm to


Synonyms: break

Definition: fall sharply

Usage: stock prices broke

Similar words: fall, lessen, diminish, decrease

Definition: decrease in size, extent, or range

Usage: The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester; The cabin pressure fell dramatically; her weight fell to under a hundred pounds; his voice fell to a whisper


Synonyms: break, break in

Definition: make submissive, obedient, or useful

Usage: The horse was tough to break; I broke in the new intern

Similar words: domesticate, domesticise, domesticize, tame, reclaim

Definition: overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable

Usage: He tames lions for the circus; reclaim falcons


Synonyms: break

Definition: be broken in

Usage: If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress

Similar words: change

Definition: undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Usage: She changed completely as she grew older; The weather changed last night


Synonyms: break

Definition: crack; of the male voice in puberty

Usage: his voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir

Similar words: turn, change state

Definition: undergo a transformation or a change of position or action

Usage: We turned from Socialism to Capitalism; The people turned against the President when he stole the election


Synonyms: break

Definition: render inoperable or ineffective

Usage: You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!

Similar words: damage

Definition: inflict damage upon

Usage: The snow damaged the roof; She damaged the car when she hit the tree


Synonyms: separate, split up, come apart, break, fall apart

Definition: become separated into pieces or fragments

Usage: The figurine broke; The freshly baked loaf fell apart

Similar words: change integrity

Definition: change in physical make-up


Synonyms: break

Definition: destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments

Usage: He broke the glass plate; She broke the match

Similar words: divide, separate

Definition: make a division or separation


Synonyms: break, check, crack

Definition: become fractured; break or crack on the surface only

Usage: The glass cracked when it was heated

Similar words: change

Definition: undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Usage: She changed completely as she grew older; The weather changed last night


Synonyms: break, develop, recrudesce

Definition: happen

Usage: Report the news as it develops; These political movements recrudesce from time to time

Similar words: come about, take place, go on, hap, happen, fall out, pass, pass off, occur

Definition: come to pass

Usage: What is happening?; The meeting took place off without an incidence; Nothing occurred that seemed important


Synonyms: break, break off, stop, discontinue

Definition: prevent completion

Usage: stop the project; break off the negotiations

Similar words: end, terminate

Definition: bring to an end or halt

Usage: She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime; The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WW I


Synonyms: break, interrupt

Definition: terminate

Usage: She interrupted her pregnancy; break a lucky streak; break the cycle of poverty

Similar words: end, terminate

Definition: bring to an end or halt

Usage: She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime; The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WW I


Synonyms: weaken, break, soften, damp, dampen

Definition: lessen in force or effect

Usage: soften a shock; break a fall

Similar words: deaden, blunt

Definition: make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation

Usage: Terror blunted her feelings; deaden a sound


Synonyms: break, break down, die, conk out, go, go bad, give out, give way, fail

Definition: stop operating or functioning

Usage: The engine finally went; The car died on the road; The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town; The coffee maker broke; The engine failed on the way to town; her eyesight went after the accident

Similar words: change

Definition: undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Usage: She changed completely as she grew older; The weather changed last night


Synonyms: break

Definition: change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another

Usage: Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children

Similar words: switch, change, shift

Definition: lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Usage: switch to a different brand of beer; She switched psychiatrists; The car changed lanes


Synonyms: break

Definition: come into being

Usage: light broke over the horizon; Voices broke in the air

Similar words: become, go, get

Definition: enter or assume a certain state or condition

Usage: He became annoyed when he heard the bad news; It must be getting more serious; her face went red with anger; She went into ecstasy; Get going!


Synonyms: break

Definition: find the solution or key to

Usage: break the code

Similar words: puzzle out, figure out, lick, work, work out, solve

Definition: find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

Usage: did you solve the problem?; Work out your problems with the boss; this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out; did you get it?; Did you get my meaning?; He could not work the math problem


Synonyms: break

Definition: find a flaw in

Usage: break an alibi; break down a proof

Similar words: ruin, destroy

Definition: destroy completely; damage irreparably

Usage: You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!; The tears ruined her make-up


Synonyms: break

Definition: undergo breaking

Usage: The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages

Similar words: diphthongise, diphthongize

Definition: change from a simple vowel to a diphthong

Usage: This vowel diphthongized in Germanic


Synonyms: break

Definition: interrupt the flow of current in

Usage: break a circuit

Similar words: interrupt, break up, disrupt, cut off

Definition: make a break in

Usage: We interrupt the program for the following messages


Synonyms: break, pause, intermit

Definition: cease an action temporarily

Usage: We pause for station identification; let's break for lunch

Similar words: interrupt, break up, disrupt, cut off

Definition: make a break in

Usage: We interrupt the program for the following messages


Synonyms: unwrap, expose, give away, reveal, let on, let out, break, bring out, disclose, discover, divulge

Definition: make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

Usage: The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold; The actress won't reveal how old she is; bring out the truth; he broke the news to her; unwrap the evidence in the murder case

Similar words: tell

Definition: let something be known

Usage: Tell them that you will be late


Synonyms: better, break

Definition: surpass in excellence

Usage: She bettered her own record; break a record

Similar words: outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, exceed, surmount, surpass

Definition: be or do something to a greater degree

Usage: her performance surpasses that of any other student I know; She outdoes all other athletes; This exceeds all my expectations; This car outperforms all others in its class


Synonyms: break

Definition: pierce or penetrate

Usage: The blade broke her skin

Similar words: penetrate, perforate

Definition: pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

Usage: The bullet penetrated her chest


Synonyms: snap off, break, break off

Definition: break a piece from a whole

Usage: break a branch from a tree

Similar words: detach

Definition: cause to become detached or separated; take off

Usage: detach the skin from the chicken before you eat it


Synonyms: fall apart, bust, break, wear, wear out

Definition: go to pieces

Usage: The lawn mower finally broke; The gears wore out; The old chair finally fell apart completely

Similar words: dilapidate, crumble, decay

Definition: fall into decay or ruin

Usage: The unoccupied house started to decay


Synonyms: break, bust

Definition: ruin completely

Usage: He busted my radio!

Similar words: ruin, destroy

Definition: destroy completely; damage irreparably

Usage: You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!; The tears ruined her make-up


Synonyms: break

Definition: separate from a clinch, in boxing

Usage: The referee broke the boxers

Similar words: disunite, divide, part, separate

Definition: force, take, or pull apart

Usage: He separated the fighting children; Moses parted the Red Sea


Synonyms: break

Definition: make the opening shot that scatters the balls

Similar words: shoot

Definition: throw or propel in a specific direction or towards a specific objective

Usage: shoot craps; shoot a golf ball


Synonyms: break, break up

Definition: destroy the completeness of a set of related items

Usage: The book dealer would not break the set

Similar words: alter, change, modify

Definition: cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

Usage: The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city; The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue


Synonyms: break

Definition: exchange for smaller units of money

Usage: I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy

Similar words: convert, exchange, commute, change

Definition: exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category

Usage: Could you convert my dollars into pounds?; He changed his name; convert centimeters into inches; convert holdings into shares


Synonyms: erupt, break, burst

Definition: force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up

Usage: break into tears; erupt in anger

Similar words: express emotion, express feelings

Definition: give verbal or other expression to one's feelings


Synonyms: break, break dance, break-dance

Definition: do a break dance

Usage: Kids were break-dancing at the street corner

Similar words: trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance

Definition: move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance

Usage: My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio


Synonyms: break

Definition: curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves

Usage: The surf broke

Similar words: founder, fall in, break, cave in, collapse, give, give way

Definition: break down, literally or metaphorically

Usage: The wall collapsed; The business collapsed; The dam broke; The roof collapsed; The wall gave in; The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice


Synonyms: founder, fall in, break, cave in, collapse, give, give way

Definition: break down, literally or metaphorically

Usage: The wall collapsed; The business collapsed; The dam broke; The roof collapsed; The wall gave in; The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice

Similar words: change

Definition: undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Usage: She changed completely as she grew older; The weather changed last night


Synonyms: break

Definition: emerge from the surface of a body of water

Usage: The whales broke

Similar words: appear

Definition: come into sight or view

Usage: He suddenly appeared at the wedding; A new star appeared on the horizon


Synonyms: break

Definition: scatter or part

Usage: The clouds broke after the heavy downpour

Similar words: disperse, dissipate, scatter, spread out

Definition: move away from each other

Usage: The crowds dispersed; The children scattered in all directions when the teacher approached;


Synonyms: break

Definition: make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing

Usage: The ranks broke

Similar words: take flight, fly, flee

Definition: run away quickly

Usage: He threw down his gun and fled


Synonyms: break, break away, break out

Definition: move away or escape suddenly

Usage: The horses broke from the stable; Three inmates broke jail; Nobody can break out--this prison is high security

Similar words: escape, break loose, get away

Definition: run away from confinement

Usage: The convicted murderer escaped from a high security prison


Synonyms: break

Definition: change directions suddenly

Similar words: switch, change, shift

Definition: lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Usage: switch to a different brand of beer; She switched psychiatrists; The car changed lanes


Synonyms: bankrupt, break, smash, ruin

Definition: reduce to bankruptcy

Usage: My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!; The slump in the financial markets smashed him

Similar words: impoverish

Definition: make poor


Synonyms: demote, kick downstairs, relegate, break, bump

Definition: assign to a lower position; reduce in rank

Usage: She was demoted because she always speaks up; He was broken down to Sergeant

Similar words: delegate, depute, designate, assign

Definition: give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)


Synonyms: break

Definition: invalidate by judicial action

Usage: The will was broken

Similar words: void, avoid, annul, invalidate, nullify, quash

Definition: declare invalid

Usage: The contract was annulled; void a plea


Synonyms: break, break away

Definition: interrupt a continued activity

Usage: She had broken with the traditional patterns

Similar words: part, separate, split, split up, break, break up

Definition: discontinue an association or relation; go different ways

Usage: The business partners broke over a tax question; The couple separated after 25 years of marriage; My friend and I split up


Synonyms: break

Definition: cause the failure or ruin of

Usage: His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage; This play will either make or break the playwright

Similar words: ruin

Definition: destroy or cause to fail

Usage: This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election


Synonyms: go against, infract, offend, breach, break, transgress, violate

Definition: act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

Usage: offend all laws of humanity; violate the basic laws or human civilization; break a law; break a promise

Similar words: disrespect

Definition: show a lack of respect for


Synonyms: break, break in

Definition: enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act

Usage: Someone broke in while I was on vacation; They broke into my car and stole my radio!; who broke into my account last night?

Similar words: trespass, intrude

Definition: enter unlawfully on someone's property

Usage: Don't trespass on my land!


Synonyms: break

Definition: happen or take place

Usage: Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months

Similar words: come about, take place, go on, hap, happen, fall out, pass, pass off, occur

Definition: come to pass

Usage: What is happening?; The meeting took place off without an incidence; Nothing occurred that seemed important


Synonyms: break

Definition: come forth or begin from a state of latency

Usage: The first winter storm broke over New York

Similar words: come forth, emerge

Definition: happen or occur as a result of something


Synonyms: break

Definition: give up

Usage: break cigarette smoking

Similar words: cease, quit, give up, stop, discontinue, lay off

Definition: put an end to a state or an activity

Usage: Quit teasing your little brother


Synonyms: break

Definition: vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity

Usage: The flat plain was broken by tall mesas

Similar words: vary, change, alter

Definition: become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence

Usage: her mood changes in accordance with the weather; The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season


Synonyms: break

Definition: come to an end

Usage: The heat wave finally broke yesterday

Similar words: cease, stop, terminate, finish, end

Definition: have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical

Usage: the bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed; Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other; My property ends by the bushes; The symphony ends in a pianissimo


Visual thesaurus for break