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
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.
“I started running as a way to process my grief over losing my dad, and I found that finding my breaking point out on a trail gave me good clarity.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
It’s true airfare hasn’t yet reached a breaking point at which people are avoiding the skies completely because they can no longer afford to fly.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
A Stormont source said the executive was "stretched to breaking point" and that the current funding allocation was not enough over the next three years.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
This is stretching the word’s definition past its breaking point.
From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026
Everything reached a breaking point months later on a spring afternoon when two soldiers came to our door.
From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat
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.
