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]
-
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.
This home is poised to break the record because of its privacy, convenience and turnkey condition, Bowen said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
While the four astronauts will not touch down on the lunar surface, they are expected to break the record for the farthest distance from Earth during their pass around the Moon.
From Barron's ● Apr. 5, 2026
That would break the record for a continuous deployment by a U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2026
To mark her eighth birthday on 3 March, Amelia is hoping to break the record for the most birthday cards received in the UK, by hitting the 8,000 cards mark.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026
“Not until you break the record for living in a fort. We could bring you food. And pillows. And books.”
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.
