breakup
disintegration; disruption; dispersal.
the ending of a personal, especially a romantic, relationship.
(in Alaska and Canada)
the melting and loosening of ice in rivers and harbors during the early spring.
the first day on which such ice is soft or dispersed enough to permit ships to use the waterways.
Informal. an act or instance of being convulsed with laughter.
temporary distortion in a televised picture.
Origin of breakup
1Words Nearby breakup
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use breakup in a sentence
As with a romantic breakup, it can be easy to reframe the relationship as a total loss or as time wasted, Williams said.
Politics and conspiracy theories are fracturing relationships. Here’s how to grieve those broken bonds. | Jeff Schrum | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostShe raced through the more than 100 hours of training required to field calls, role-playing scenarios with hotline staff members pretending to be teens in the midst of breakdowns and breakups.
A Fortune and SurveyMonkey poll last month found 64% of Americans worried about Big Tech’s antitrust violations and 48% supporting the breakup of at least one of the companies.
In 2020, we learned to be kind to ourselves, especially after going through tough emotional crises, like a breakup.
Indeed, the adage “the best way to get over a breakup is a hookup” ceases to function when you’re socially distancing.
Date Lab: Opposites didn’t attract — but they didn’t repel, either | Rich Juzwiak | February 4, 2021 | Washington Post
She says that, shortly after a rough breakup, she went on a double-date with a man and Cosby and his wife, Camille.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004 | Marlow Stern | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFollowing the XL breakup, Miss Bank$ became Azealia Banks, with the artist dropping several songs on YouTube.
Azealia Banks Opens Up About Her Journey from Stripping to Rap Stardom | Marlow Stern | November 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe crew wear parachutes and surviving vehicle breakup would then be a matter of chance as to whether or not you get thrown free.
He had been arrested and briefly jailed in Gary in 2004, after an incident triggered by a breakup with a live-in girlfriend.
Indiana Serial Killer’s Confession Was Just the Start | Michael Daly | October 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut some things must stay private—including the identity of the singer in those breakup songs.
He glanced quickly at me out of a square, serious face, then plunged back through the splintered door toward the breakup inside.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown FyfeSomehow or other she'd made it across Willow Brook and the breakup had kept her there.
The Duck-footed Hound | James Arthur KjelgaardFaye found herself hoping that they might be within sight of the river when the breakup came.
Johnny Longbow | Roy J. SnellSome illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks to prevent the breakup of text.
Bird Houses Boys Can Build | Albert F. SiepertIf we get there before the breakup, we may cross on the ice.
Johnny Longbow | Roy J. Snell
British Dictionary definitions for break up
to separate or cause to separate
to put an end to (a relationship) or (of a relationship) to come to an end
to dissolve or cause to dissolve; disrupt or be disrupted: the meeting broke up at noon
(intr) British (of a school) to close for the holidays
(intr) (of a person making a telephone call) to be inaudible at times, owing to variations in the signal: you're breaking up
informal to lose or cause to lose control of the emotions: the news of his death broke her up
slang to be or cause to be overcome with laughter
a separation or disintegration
Canadian
in the Canadian north, the breaking up of the ice on a body of water that marks the beginning of spring
this season
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with breakup
Divide into many pieces; disintegrate. For example, Now break up the head of garlic into separate cloves. [Mid-1700s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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