breakup
/ˈbrāk-ˌəp/ (ame, mw)
breakup — noun
1. the process or result of something splitting apart, especially when a close rela
the process or result of something splitting apart, especially when a close relationship, group, or organization comes to an end.
The band's breakup shocked fans across South Korea and Japan.
the breakup of a group or partnership
After the breakup, Putri moved out of the apartment by Friday.
The breakup of the old neighbourhood began after the new highway opened.
News of the company's breakup sent factory workers into protest.
- split
informal and often used for couples or groups
- separation
broader and can be more formal or legal
- collapse
suggests a more serious failure of a system or organization
- union
coming together instead of separating
- reconciliation
used when a couple or group becomes close again
文法句型
a breakup
the breakup of + noun
用法筆記
Often refers to the end of a romantic relationship, but it can also describe a band, business, or larger whole falling apart. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which is used only for spring ice.
常見錯誤
2. the spring period when river or lake ice cracks, loosens, and starts to melt.
the spring period when river or lake ice cracks, loosens, and starts to melt.
By April, the river breakup made the ice road unsafe.
seasonal use: river breakup
Families watched the breakup send huge ice blocks downstream.
The annual breakup left the shore covered with wet, broken ice.
Pilots waited for the lake breakup before bringing food north.
- freeze-up
the time when water surfaces freeze over again
文法句型
the breakup
river/lake breakup
用法筆記
Used mainly in northern regions where winter ice covers rivers or lakes. It names a seasonal event, not a relationship or organization ending.
breakup — verb
- breakuppresent simple I / you / we / they
- breakups3rd person singular
- breakuping-ing form
- breakupedpast simple
1. to separate and move away from each other after being together, or to make a gro
to separate and move away from each other after being together, or to make a group stop staying together.
When the music stopped, the crowd broke up and headed for the exits.
intransitive: a group breaks up and goes away
At three o'clock, the class broke up for the lunch break.
Police whistles broke up the fight outside the night market.
After the speech, small groups broke up and walked toward the station.
文法句型
[group] breaks up
break up + fight/meeting/class
用法筆記
Often used for crowds, classes, meetings, and fights that stop staying together. Distinguish from sense 6: this sense separates people or gatherings, while sense 6 interrupts the flow of an activity or pattern.
常見錯誤
2. to stop being in a romantic relationship with someone.
to stop being in a romantic relationship with someone.
Mert and Putri broke up after months of arguing about money.
intransitive: a couple breaks up
Nikhil broke up with his girlfriend before the move to Toronto.
break up with + person
By winter, the couple had broken up and sold the cafe.
Otis wants to break up but has not said it yet.
- get together
to start a romantic relationship
- make up
to become friendly again after an argument
文法句型
[couple] break up
break up with + person
用法筆記
This sense is about romantic partners only. English commonly uses the two-word verb form break up, while breakup as one word is more common as the noun.
常見錯誤
3. to lose emotional control and start crying, shaking, or finding it hard to speak
to lose emotional control and start crying, shaking, or finding it hard to speak.
After hearing the verdict, the witness broke up and could not speak.
emotional collapse after sudden news
Jabari broke up in tears when the hospital called at dawn.
break up in tears
The old coach nearly broke up during the final goodbye.
Christopher broke up on stage after spotting his father in the front row.
- collapse
broader and can also describe physical weakness
- crack
suggests beginning to lose emotional strength
- fall apart
common informal phrase for losing control emotionally
- steady oneself
to regain control and calm down
- compose oneself
more formal; to become calm again
文法句型
[person] breaks up
break up in tears
用法筆記
Used when strong feelings suddenly overcome someone. Distinguish from sense 8, where laughter causes the reaction rather than grief, shock, or stress.
4. to break into smaller pieces, or to make something do this.
to break into smaller pieces, or to make something do this.
The dry cake broke up when Eli tried to lift it.
physical material breaks into pieces
The old road broke up after three days of heavy rain.
Kwame broke the stale bread up and fed the ducks.
In the mixer, the soft cheese broke up into small lumps.
- hold together
to stay in one piece
文法句型
[material] breaks up
break up + bread/cake/road
用法筆記
This sense is about physical pieces forming. Distinguish from sense 5, which focuses on ruining something so it cannot continue, even when no literal pieces appear.
5. to ruin something so completely that it cannot continue in its old form.
to ruin something so completely that it cannot continue in its old form.
Years of debt broke up the family business in the end.
break up + business or organization
The scandal broke up the reform group before the vote.
Constant shelling broke up the bridge network along the coast.
Rumours from abroad broke up their plan for a quick sale.
- preserve
to keep something existing or working
- strengthen
to make a group or plan more stable
文法句型
break up + business/group/plan
be broken up by + cause
用法筆記
Often used when pressure, scandal, war, or some other force destroys a business, plan, or organized structure. Distinguish from sense 4, which is about literal pieces, and from sense 6, which may be only temporary.
6. to disturb the smooth progress of something by cutting across it or making it le
to disturb the smooth progress of something by cutting across it or making it less continuous.
A loud alarm broke up the quiet of the reading room.
break up + quiet or calm atmosphere
Frequent ads broke up the film just as the story grew tense.
Road work broke up traffic on the ring road all morning.
The sudden joke broke up her train of thought during the meeting.
- maintain
to keep something steady or continuous
- smooth out
to remove interruptions or roughness
文法句型
break up + quiet/traffic/film
break up + train of thought
用法筆記
This sense is about breaking continuity rather than separating people or creating physical pieces. It often applies to sound, movement, attention, or the structure of a story.
7. to rot, wear away, or lose its structure over time.
to rot, wear away, or lose its structure over time.
Left in the sun, the dead fish broke up within two days.
material breaks up through decay
The wet cardboard broke up and stuck to the garden path.
Years underground had broken the cloth bag up into dust.
After months in seawater, the rope broke up into soft fibres.
- decay
general term for gradual physical breakdown
- rot
especially used for food, wood, or other organic matter
- disintegrate
more formal; focuses on losing structure completely
- preserve
to keep material from breaking down
文法句型
[material] breaks up over time
break up into + softer material
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes slow decay from age, water, heat, or natural damage. Distinguish from sense 4, where something breaks into pieces quickly rather than gradually rotting away.
8. to make someone laugh so much that they can hardly stop.
to make someone laugh so much that they can hardly stop.
Felipe's wedding speech broke up the whole table.
informal: break up + a group of listeners
One line from the play broke up even the strict math teacher.
The baby's tiny sneeze broke up everyone in the photo studio.
Christopher's goat impression broke up the bus on the way home.
- crack up
very close informal equivalent
- amuse
weaker; does not suggest helpless laughter
- send into fits of laughter
more expressive and less casual
- bore
to fail to interest or amuse
文法句型
break up + audience/group/person
用法筆記
This informal sense is common in spoken stories about comedy or a funny moment. Distinguish from sense 3, where someone breaks up because of emotion rather than laughter.