break up
B1Informal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To separate into smaller parts or pieces; to end a relationship.
To disperse a gathering; to cause something to disintegrate; to become emotionally distressed; to end an event or period; to cause something to cease functioning as a whole.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Phrasal verb. Primarily transitive but can be intransitive when referring to the action of a relationship ending mutually ('They broke up'). Can refer to physical disintegration, emotional distress, or the termination of systems, events, or groups.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'break up' is overwhelmingly common for romantic relationship endings. In British English, 'split up' is a very frequent near-synonym in this context, though 'break up' is fully understood.
Connotations
Slightly more casual/conversational in both dialects. In academic/technical contexts (e.g., 'break up the data'), it is neutral.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both dialects, especially in social/personal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SBJ break up OBJ (e.g., The police broke up the fight.)SBJ break up with OBJ (e.g., She broke up with him.)SBJ break up (e.g., Their marriage broke up.)SBJ break up into OBJ (e.g., The empire broke up into smaller states.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break it up! (command to stop a fight)”
- “break up the monotony”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The regulators moved to break up the corporate conglomerate due to antitrust concerns.
Academic
The tectonic plate began to break up during the late Jurassic period.
Everyday
I heard Sarah and Tom broke up last week; it's really sad.
Technical
The software uses an algorithm to break up the data stream into manageable packets.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They decided to break up after university.
- The teacher broke up the fight in the playground.
- Let's break up the drive with a stop in Oxford.
American English
- She just broke up with her boyfriend.
- The federal government broke up the telecom monopoly.
- We need to break up this meeting and get back to work.
adjective
British English
- It was a very break-up song, full of sadness. (Informal, attributive use)
- He's been in a break-up mood since the argument. (Informal)
American English
- She downloaded a break-up playlist. (Informal, attributive use)
- The band's break-up album was their most successful. (Informal)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children broke up the bread for the birds.
- My friends broke up last month.
- The ice on the river is starting to break up.
- Why did you break up with your partner?
- The committee voted to break up the large estate into smaller plots.
- His voice broke up with emotion as he gave the speech.
- The satellite broke up upon re-entering the atmosphere.
- The coalition government broke up over profound ideological differences.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cookie: you BREAK it UP into pieces to share. A couple who stop sharing their life together BREAK UP their relationship.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS/UNITIES ARE WHOLE OBJECTS; ENDING A RELATIONSHIP IS BREAKING THE OBJECT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'ломать вверх'. For relationships, use 'расставаться'. For dispersing a crowd, 'разгонять'. For disintegration, 'распадаться'. Avoid using 'разбивать' for non-physical contexts.
Common Mistakes
- *I broke up him. (Incorrect order) -> I broke up with him. (Correct)
- Confusing 'break up' (end relationship) with 'break down' (stop functioning, analyze, cry).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'break up' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While very common for romantic splits, it can refer to ending any association (business, band), dispersing a group, or physical disintegration.
'Break up' implies separation into parts or an end to unity (a relationship, a crowd). 'Break down' often means a mechanical failure, a loss of emotional control, or a detailed analysis ('break down the costs').
For ending a relationship, you must use the preposition 'with' + the person: 'I broke up with him.' Without 'with', the object is the thing being dispersed or ended (e.g., 'break up the fight').
Yes, in British English 'break up' means to start the school holidays ('We break up for summer next Friday.'). This usage is rare in American English.