How do you use the word "break" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "break" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "break": I slept a little during lunch break because I was so tired. Sometimes hockey players get so competitive that fights break out.

Break Meaning

/bɹeɪk/

Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.

verbTo separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly., To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.

Sentence Examples

I slept a little during lunch break because I was so tired.

Sometimes hockey players get so competitive that fights break out.

She was on her lunch break.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

shift interrupt fracture

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

Be careful not to ____ the fragile vase while moving it to the shelf.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Please be careful with that glass vase, as it is very easy to ____.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg-der. Proto-Germanic *brekaną Proto-West Germanic *brekan Old English brecan Middle English breken English break From Middle English breken, from Old English brecan (“to break”), from Proto-West Germanic *brekan, from Proto-Germanic *brekaną (“to break”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”). Doublet of bray. Cognates Cognates of Germanic origin include Scots brek (“to break”), West Frisian brekke (“to break”), Dutch breken (“to break”), Low German breken (“to break”), German brechen (“to break”), French broyer (“to crush, grind”), Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (brikan, “to break, destroy”), Norwegian brek (“desire, yearning”). Also cognate with Albanian brishtë (“fragile”), Latin frangō (“break, break up, shatter”, verb), whence English fracture and other terms – fragile, frail, fraction, and fragment. The modern pronunciation shows an irregular change of Early Modern English /ɛː/ to /eɪ/ in the standard language; contrast this with the development of other words such as speak and wreak.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"First, marinate the tofu. In a bowl, whisk the kecap manis, chilli sauce, and sesame oil together. Cut the tofu into strips about 1cm thick, mix gently (so it doesn't break) with the marinade and leave in the fridge for half an hour." — 2012 May 8, Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, Random House, →ISBN, page 79:

"If I had called, and had answered me, yet would I not beleeue that he had hearkened vnto my voice: For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause." — 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 9:16–17:

"An old man, broken with the storms of state, Is come to lay his weary bones among ye; Give him a little earth for charity" — 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

"Colonel: See, gentlemen? Any horse could be broken." — 2002, John Fusco, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron:

"Two days later they transferred her to another prison to separate us. I broke. My life was gone, so I thought." — 1986 February 1, Kathy Jo Elliott, “Solid As A Rock”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 28, page 5:

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