break
verb (used with object)
to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments.
were breaking
-
past progressiveof break.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Tracking this gas helped the researchers determine how actively the microbes were breaking down the plastics.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Wilson was unaware that talks were breaking down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Ngoshe is a mainly Muslim community and the attack reportedly took place in the evening, while many people were breaking their Ramadan fast.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026
“A lot of folks didn’t seem to think there’d be any accountability, so they were breaking the law in plain view.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026
They were breaking a law that had been established in the South.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
