break up

verb

1. to separate or cause to separate

2. to put an end to (a relationship) or (of a relationship) to come to an end

3. to dissolve or cause to dissolve; disrupt or be disrupted

   the meeting broke up at noon

4. (intr) (of a school) to close for the holidays

5. (intr) (of a person making a telephone call) to be inaudible at times, owing to variations in the signal

   you're breaking up

6. informal,  to lose or cause to lose control of the emotions

   the news of his death broke her up

7. slang,  to be or cause to be overcome with laughter

noun

1. a separation or disintegration

2. 1. in the Canadian north, the breaking up of the ice on a body of water that marks the beginning of spring

   2. this season

Idioms and Phrases

Divide into many pieces; disintegrate. For example, Now break up the head of garlic into separate cloves . [Mid-1700s]

Interrupt the continuity of something, as in A short walk will break up the long morning .

Also, break it up . Scatter, disperse, as in The crowd broke up as soon as they reached the streets . [Late 1400s] This phrase is also used as an imperative, as in “Break it up!” shouted the police officer . [c. 1930]

Bring or come to an end, as in His gambling was bound to break up their marriage .

Also, break someone up . Burst into or cause one to burst into an expression of feeling, such as laughter or tears. For example, His jokes always break me up , or That touching eulogy broke us all up , or I looked at her and just broke up . The precise meaning depends on the context. This sense grew out of a usage from the early 1800s that meant “upset” or “disturb.” [ Colloquial ; early 1800s]

Example Sentences

Anything to break up the monotony of herring, salt tack, and sauerkraut at every meal.

Read more on Literature

The installment loan product allows customers to break up the cost of larger purchases into several fixed monthly payments, typically over a longer span than Klarna’s interest-free options.

Read more on Barron's

We shall see if their promised response materialises before Holyrood breaks up for the election – which oddly enough is 24 weeks away.

Read more on BBC

With domestic men's football breaking up for an international window, plenty of clubs are using their main stadiums for WSL matches this weekend.

Read more on BBC

Otherwise, she said, “It seemed too silly that two people would just decide to break up and then realize they want to be together” within a tidy, 90-minute time span.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adjourn 
• disband 
• dismantle 
• disperse 
• disrupt 
• dissolve 
• divide 
• halt 
• put an end to 
• separate 
• split 
• stop 
• suspend 
• terminate