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Synonyms

break the news

Idioms  
  1. Make something known, as in We suspected that she was pregnant but waited for her to break the news to her in-laws. This term, in slightly different form (break a matter or break a business), dates from the early 1500s. Another variant is the 20th-century journalistic phrase, break a story, meaning “to reveal a news item or make it available for publication.”


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.

However, the scientific paper detailing the discovery was published sooner than expected, meaning he had to break the news to him during a video call instead.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Another issue is just how “out” to be, at work and elsewhere, about one’s preferences; the Davises worry about how and when to break the news to their teenage son.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

When Neil died in 1965, it fell to Kai to phone their parents, who were in Italy, and break the news.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Balde said he was "devastated" and had to break the news to his wife.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

“Well, then! Let’s break the news to Lanning, Mike.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

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