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.
That would break the record for a continuous deployment by a U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026
A young Igor Thiago could not have known he would one day break the record for the most goals by a Brazilian player in a Premier League season.
From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026
In just the first two races today, 13 boys have achieved the feat to break the record!
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2025
The stock tumbled 20.8% in recent morning trading, putting it on track to break the record for a one-day selloff of 14.8%, which was set on Nov. 12, 2020.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 18, 2025
Everyone hoped attendance would continue rising and that the number of people drawn to the closing ceremony of October 30 would break the record set on Chicago Day.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
