breaking

¹

[brey-king]

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

[brey-king]

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

[brey-king]

noun

1. break dancing.

breaking

/ ˈbreɪkɪŋ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of breaking¹

C19: translation of German Brechung

Example Sentences

“They framed the whole house, and the garage, in three days. Thirty journeymen framers. Because of her,” said Koerner, his voice breaking as he recalled the house-raising that began in mid-July.

From Los Angeles Times

Born in Colombia and raised in Norway, Braekhus spent her career breaking down barriers - from fighting misogyny in the gym to silencing critics on her way to becoming the undisputed queen of the sport.

From BBC

Bristol City signed him in 2017 but he needed loan spells at Bath, Newport and Sunderland before breaking into the Robins first team in 2020-21.

From BBC

Trout looked odds on to score after breaking through just after the hour but a brilliant cover tackle from Field saved the home side.

From BBC

While they were clear that they were not breaking away from the Anglican Communion, they rejected the idea that "Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury".

From BBC