break up

British  

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

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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

break up Idioms  

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

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

3. 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]

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

5. 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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

break up

At the dinner where she thinks he’s going to pop the question, Warner blindsides her instead when he announces he wants to break up.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

Andrew White of Edinburgh, who had flown to South Florida for Wednesday’s game, wasn’t about to let something as minor as imminent doom break up a good time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Murphy lays out a provocative agenda for Democrats to call Americans to national service, break up corporate power, rebuild local communities, and create a bigger tent that reaches disaffected conservatives hungry for change.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

They're just an opportunity for certain broadcasters to show more ads, they break up the natural flow of games, and are unnecessary in air conditioned stadiums.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Villages filled with children and old people, midday meals to break up the workday, churches, graveyards, farmers selling crops, town halls with birth records, death notices.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

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