break the record
Idioms-
Surpass a previous achievement, as in He was determined to break the record for the high jump . This usage is applied primarily to sports of various kinds. [1880s]
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Move very fast, as in The lecture was so dull that we broke the record getting to the door : [Second half of 1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The new Hydromax car will also be driven by the now-retired Green - who said at a launch event in May that he would be "amazed" if it didn't break the record.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
He does, however, still have a long way to go to break the record for most assists ever in the Premier League - that is held by Ryan Giggs with 162.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
A sudden power surge is super-charging college softball and at least two other hitters, both at UCLA, could realistically break the record alongside her.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
LA28 is planning to make 14 million tickets available for the Games, which would break the record for total tickets sold set by Paris 2024.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
I’ll show all of them when I break the record.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
