break point

American

noun

Tennis.

a situation in which the receiving side, holding the advantage, can win the game by winning the next point.

break point British

noun

tennis a point which allows the receiving player to break the service of the server

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

After comfortably winning the first two sets where Sinner offered up only one break point opportunity, the match turned on its head as he closed in on victory.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Tabur did not have a break point in the match as Sinner wrapped up victory in two hours and eight minutes.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

The 86th-ranked Zakharova, 24, resisted a break point in the opening game of the second set - but Raducanu held to love before forcing the breakthrough at the next opportunity.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

In the other semi-final, Shelton rescued a break point in the 11th game when Shapovalov missed a forehand long as they battled into a deciding tie-breaker.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

His break point seemed to have no adequate antecedents.

From Human Error by Jones, Raymond F.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023