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

But as the 70-year-old reflects on the role he recently relinquished, he thinks he was fixing professional golf—not breaking it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In excess, they create oxidative stress, which occurs when ROS add oxygen molecules to vital proteins and DNA, damaging or breaking them apart.

Read more on Science Daily

Mia Thornton, 40, separated from husband Gordon Thornton in 2023, then dated nationally syndicated DJ Incognito for a year before breaking up with him and reuniting with her estranged hubby this past New Year’s Eve.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil.

Read more on BBC

Mikolajewski has observed how behavioral therapy and small changes–like breaking up tasks and positive reinforcement when kids are doing the right thing—can significantly help.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal