breaking

¹ American  

[brey-king] / ˈbreɪ kɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a news story) currently developing or having happened recently and being released for publication or airing, as on television or radio, in print, or on the internet.

   Our network aims to be your trusted source for breaking news, local weather, and sports.

2. coming into being suddenly.

   When I awoke, it was breaking day over the eastern horizon.

3. changing or collapsing suddenly.

   This is a photograph of a breaking wave in the subantarctic waters of the Southern Ocean.

---

breaking ² American  

[brey-king] / ˈbreɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. Phonology. the change of a pure vowel to a diphthong, especially in certain environments, as, in Old English, the change of a vowel to a diphthong under the influence of a following consonant or combination of consonants, as the change of -a- to -ea- and of -e- to -eo- before preconsonantal r or l and before h, as in earm “arm” developed from arm, and eorthe “earth” from erthe.

---

breaking ³ American  

[brey-king] / ˈbreɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. break dancing.

---

breaking British  

/ ˈbreɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. linguistics (in Old English, Old Norse, etc) the change of a vowel into a diphthong

---

Etymology

Origin of breaking¹

First recorded in 1930–35; break ( def. ) (in the sense “to release a news story for publication”) + -ing ² ( def. )

Origin of breaking²

First recorded in 1870–75; translation of German Brechung; break, -ing ¹

Origin of breaking³

First recorded in 1980–85; by ellipsis

Example Sentences

Many suppliers added a tariff charge to invoices, but a handful simply raised prices without breaking out tariff costs, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

"For many, the social contract that rewarded previous generations for hard work is breaking down," he adds.

From BBC

The inclement weather and a pitch that has been sweating under covers mean England will delay naming their side until Sunday's toss, breaking with their tradition of announcing their eleven 24 hours in advance.

From Barron's

The song - Fender's first ever chart-topping single - finally reached the summit on Friday, breaking the record for the most consecutive weeks in the top 40 before reaching number one.

From BBC

Cryptocurrency companies and fintech startups dream of breaking into the mainstream financial system.

From The Wall Street Journal