break with
B2Formal and informal, common in written and spoken contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To end a relationship, tradition, or connection; to separate oneself from someone or something.
To deliberately abandon or discontinue a long-standing practice, belief, affiliation, or personal relationship.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A phrasal verb implying a decisive, conscious, and often permanent separation. It carries connotations of a significant change or rebellion against the norm.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant syntactic differences. Slightly more common in political/journalistic contexts in British English.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Broadly similar frequency; used across all registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
break with + someone/something (object)break with + tradition/past/convention (abstract noun)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break with tradition”
- “Make a clean break with the past”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The new CEO decided to break with the company's conservative investment strategy.
Academic
The philosopher's later work represents a radical break with his earlier positivist framework.
Everyday
He broke with his old friends when their lifestyles became too different.
Technical
The research breaks with established paradigms in the field.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The artist decided to break with her gallery.
- It was time to break with outmoded customs.
American English
- The senator broke with her party on the tax bill.
- They broke with tradition and had a winter wedding.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He broke with his football team after an argument.
- She broke with her family's tradition and studied art, not law.
- The new policy represents a clear break with the practices of the previous administration.
- In his latest book, the author makes a decisive epistemological break with the structuralist school of thought.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine BREAKING a physical chain (WITH) which you are connected to someone or something. You break the link.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS/TRADITIONS ARE BONDS/CONNECTIONS. Breaking with them is severing a physical tie.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'ломать с'. Use 'порвать с (кем-л./чем-л.)', 'отказаться от (традиции)', 'отойти от'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'break up with' (for romantic relationships) instead of the more general 'break with'. Confusing 'break with' (phrasal verb) with the noun 'break' + preposition 'with' (e.g., 'a break with tradition').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'break with' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is most commonly used for abstract concepts like traditions, habits, ideologies, and past practices, as well as for groups or institutions.
'Break up with' is specifically for ending a romantic relationship. 'Break with' is broader, used for ending associations with groups, ideas, or traditions, and can also be used for non-romantic personal relationships.
Yes, it can imply positive, progressive change, e.g., 'breaking with a discriminatory past' or 'breaking with inefficient methods'.
No, it is inseparable. The object always comes after 'with'. You cannot say 'break tradition with'. You must say 'break with tradition'.