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• break-even
  break-even

  adjective

  having income exactly equal to expenditure, thus showing neither profit nor loss.
• break even
  break even

  verb

  (intr, adverb) to attain a level of activity, as in commerce, or a point of operation, as in gambling, at which there is neither profit nor loss

break-even

American  

[brayk-ee-vuhn] / ˈbreɪkˈi vən /

Or breakeven

adjective

1. having income exactly equal to expenditure, thus showing neither profit nor loss.

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noun

1. break-even point.

2. Energy. the stage at which a fission or fusion reaction becomes self-sustaining.

break even British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to attain a level of activity, as in commerce, or a point of operation, as in gambling, at which there is neither profit nor loss

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noun

1. accounting

   1. the level of commercial activity at which the total cost and total revenue of a business enterprise are equal

   2. ( as modifier )

      breakeven prices

break even Idioms  

1. Neither gain nor lose in some venture, recoup the amount one invested. For example, If the dealer sells five cars a week, he'll break even. This expression probably came from one or another card game (some authorities say it was faro), where it meant to bet that a card would win and lose an equal number of times. It soon was transferred to balancing business gains and losses. Novelist Sinclair Lewis so used it in Our Mr. Wrenn (1914). The usage gave rise to the noun break-even point, for the amount of sales or production needed for a firm to recoup its investment. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of break-even

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

break-even break even

The subsidiary of Volkswagen, which is itself struggling, aims to lower its break-even production point to fewer than 200,000 vehicles per year.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

But recouping money usually isn’t enough for a studio like Warner Bros., which is always looking for profit margin, not break-even figures.

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

Kumar says they will also need to communicate a clear plan to the market on how much further investment is needed and when a break-even is expected on these ambitious bets.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Some of the week’s economic gauges also painted a concerning picture of the market, including home-builder sentiment, which remains depressed and below the break-even level of 50 since April 2024.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

“Perhaps there’s a break-even point for all propellants.”

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

The others either break even or are in the red.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

In Memphis, Tenn., and Pittsburgh, buyers of single-family homes can save and break even in roughly 11 years on average.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Some captains said they could net up to $20,000 this season, but others just want to break even.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The plan came after their first fine last year and under it they must break even in 2026-27.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

I could see the apology written there, the wretched guilt, and was surprised to find my heart could break even that bit more.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

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