1
as in to disband
to cease to exist or cause to cease to exist as a group or organization
the band broke up when their arguments over money grew too stressful
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2
as in to stop
to come to an end
the meeting broke up when all the business for the day had been completed
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3
as in to divide
to set or force apart
he broke up the rocks in the old stone wall with a crowbar, sending them tumbling to the ground
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4
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
the sort of person who would be among the first to break up in a prisoner of war camp
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5
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
police arrived at the scene and immediately broke up the fracas
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6
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
break up the feta cheese and spread it over the salad
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7
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
if you break up during the skit, the audience will know that you're in on the joke
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as in split
the act or process of a whole separating into two or more parts or pieces
the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism pretty much signaled the end of the Cold War
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of break up
Rob Rossi, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
The show was canceled after one season, at which point the couple broke up.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
The true freshman defensive back paces the Orange’s secondary with eight pass breakups.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
No officials attempted to break up the brawl, and the crowd cheered on the youth players.
—Noun
As orbital launches and other space activities have increased, so have the fragments produced by collisions, accidental breakups, spent rocket stages, and more.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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The nonprofit institution that provided significant funding for PBS and NPR is disbanding after nearly 60 years in operation.—
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Perhaps the biggest mistake made in the aftermath of our 2003 invasion of Iraq was to disband the Iraqi Army before another force was ready to maintain order.—
Verb
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Several vehicles that stopped behind her appear to belong to federal agents, based on activity observed in other videos.—
-
The prioritization for that new safety should probably be in coverage skills, because Moehrig and Ransom are known more for their run-stopping and tackling prowesses.—
Verb
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Footage of the shooting has divided viewers, with finger-pointing over who was the aggressor and who was the victim.—
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From then until now, the image of a plate divided into sections has more clearly depicted what serving sizes should look like in an actual meal.—
Verb
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Over time, the gasket can become dry and cracked, allowing hot air to enter the fridge.—
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Grout's biggest challenge is cracking from improper installation or too much moisture.—
Verb
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From December through February, shuttle service largely ceases (outside of select days and weekends; check shuttle schedules for up-to-date details).—
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Meanwhile, over in Britain, a vibrant antiwar movement brought on motion after motion in Parliament to cease fire and end all offensive operations against the rebels.—
Verb
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Bullet train services were temporarily disrupted, and cameras mounted on buildings showed visible shaking.—
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However, drinking caffeinated tea too late in the day can disrupt sleep.—
Verb
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Honestly, my only regret is this thing in the eye [laughs].—
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The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate achievements that make people laugh, then think.—
Noun
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Mafuko’s mother was killed in 2007 and in 2013, during the split of Kabirizi family, Mafuko joined the Bageni family.—
-
Per People, the split is amicable with no major turmoil leading up to it.—
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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