breaking point
Americannoun
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the point at which a person, object, structure, etc., collapses under stress.
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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
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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.
But for the new prime minister, reading intelligence reports detailing the gravity of the crisis, it was a breaking point.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
By the end of 2024, she had reached breaking point.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 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
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
Smith, his nerves at the breaking point, made an ominous statement implying that there would be no match race, then led the horse out.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
