breaking point
Americannoun
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the point at which a person, object, structure, etc., collapses under stress.
-
the point at which a situation or condition becomes critical.
noun
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the point at which something or someone gives way under strain
-
the moment of crisis in a situation
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of breaking point
First recorded in 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The hospitals along the northern coastline are at breaking point.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
One player, recently recalled winger Agustin Canobbio, had a blazing row with Bielsa, saying the breaking point came when the coach criticised the way he was sitting.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
This podcast series examines the strategies emerging to solve the country’s housing shortfall as high interest rates and a chronic shortage of inventory have pushed the U.S. housing market to a breaking point.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz warned Wednesday that the country was at a "breaking point" after nearly a month of protests that have caused shortages of food, fuel and life-saving medicine.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
Everyone had a breaking point, after all, and the fact that Joaquin had spent almost three years with Mark and Linda and he still hadn’t been able to find theirs made him nervous.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
