breaking point: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, semi-formal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “breaking point” mean?
The moment of greatest strain beyond which a person, system, or object can no longer endure and collapses or gives way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The moment of greatest strain beyond which a person, system, or object can no longer endure and collapses or gives way.
The critical threshold or limit of stress, pressure, or endurance, after which a fundamental failure, rupture, or mental collapse occurs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'breaking point'. Slight preference in British English for 'breaking point' in engineering/physics contexts, while American English may use it slightly more in psychological/political commentary.
Connotations
Identical connotations of critical failure under pressure.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “breaking point” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] is at breaking point.[SUBJECT] reached breaking point.Pushed [OBJECT] to breaking point.The breaking point for [NOUN] was...A breaking point has been reached.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breaking point” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The breaking-point stress was calculated by engineers.
- She experienced a breaking-point moment.
American English
- The breaking-point load caused the failure.
- He had a breaking-point revelation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to market collapse, supply chain failure, or employee burnout thresholds.
Academic
Used in psychology (stress resilience), materials science (physical failure), sociology (social unrest).
Everyday
Describing personal stress, relationship difficulties, or overwhelming workloads.
Technical
In engineering/physics: the stress at which a material fractures or deforms permanently.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breaking point”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breaking point”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breaking point”
- Using 'breaking point' for a positive turning point (incorrect).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He breaking-pointed' – incorrect). It is a compound noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun, written as two words: 'breaking point'.
Rarely and unconventionally. Its core meaning involves failure or collapse under negative pressure. A positive transformation is usually a 'tipping point' or 'turning point'.
Both are limits. 'Boiling point' is the specific temperature where a liquid boils, often metaphorically for anger. 'Breaking point' is broader, for any stress causing collapse (emotional, physical, systemic).
Yes, though less common. It can refer to multiple distinct thresholds for different systems or people, or multiple historical instances (e.g., 'The material had several breaking points under different types of stress').
The moment of greatest strain beyond which a person, system, or object can no longer endure and collapses or gives way.
Breaking point is usually formal, semi-formal, journalistic in register.
Breaking point: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪkɪŋ ˌpɔɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪkɪŋ ˌpɔɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The straw that broke the camel's back (specific event causing the breaking point)”
- “At the end of one's tether (similar emotional state)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rope being pulled tighter and tighter until it SNAPS. The 'point' just before the SNAP is the BREAKING POINT.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENDURANCE IS TENSILE STRENGTH / A PERSON/SYSTEM IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT UNDER STRESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'breaking point' LEAST appropriate?