Skip to main content

break up — to end a romantic relationship

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: to end a romantic relationship

Pronunciation (IPA): /breɪk ʌp/

Korean meaning: 연인 관계를 끝내다, 헤어지다

Korean pronunciation: 브**레**이크 **업**

Example Sentences

  • My phone broke up the romantic dinner when it rang during the proposal.
  • The company decided to break up its massive headquarters into smaller regional offices.
  • She broke up with him via text message - talk about modern romance!

break up

NOUN

//breɪk ʌp//

to end a romantic relationship

break up concept
💡 Concept

A couple break up sadly on a park bench in the evening

break up rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Break up, wake up, then make up your face for a new start

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/breɪk ʌp/
🇬🇧 UK/breɪk ʌp/

🌳Etymology

Rootbreak
Suffix-up

Origin

From Old English 'brecan' (to break) combined with the preposition 'up', both of Germanic origin. The phrasal verb developed in English to metaphorically describe the dissolution of a relationship.

🎵Rhyme

make upwake upshake up
make up
wake up
shake up

🔗Collocations

break up with someone
break up the party
break up into pieces
break up a fight
break up a monopoly
break up the meeting

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My phone broke up the romantic dinner when it rang during the proposal.”

“The company decided to break up its massive headquarters into smaller regional offices.”

😄 Fun example

“She broke up with him via text message - talk about modern romance!”

“The ice began to break up as spring arrived, making strange cracking sounds.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

separatesplit upenddissolvedivide

Antonyms

get togetherunitemake up

Related

break downbreak offfall apartdivorcesplit

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.

Start for Free60s Demo