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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025
Vargas realized the man needed medical attention and called an ambulance, which came to treat the man and broke up the operation.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025
The two never officially announced their split, but breakup rumors surfaced in May 2023 after Meg was spotted with Belgian soccer player Romelu Lukaku at a wedding.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
Despite the critical praise and relative success received by City High’s first and only album, the trio — including Ryan Toby and Claudette Ortiz — ultimately broke up in 2003 after just four years of working together.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025
Vargas realized the man needed medical attention and called an ambulance, which came to treat the man and broke up the operation.
—Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Noun
Gwyneth and Ben Affleck’s relationship woes Paltrow met Ben Affleck at a dinner event shortly after her breakup with Pitt in 1997.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 16 July 2025
The two never officially announced their split, but breakup rumors surfaced in May 2023 after Meg was spotted with Belgian soccer player Romelu Lukaku at a wedding.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
-
By the time Geldof held a press conference to roll out the first lineup of Live Aid, the Who had been disbanded for several years.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
-
Efforts that support diversity, equity and inclusion have been disbanded by federal and state governments.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Shortly after Braun’s executive order, the Indiana Department of Health told local health departments to stop accepting requests to change genders on birth certificates.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
24 July 2025
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Organizations need to stop managing change and start creating it.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Hamilton County residents are divided on the new lease terms for Paycor Stadium.—
Erin Glynn,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
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The California health system has divided his former positions amongst Michael Condrin (interim CEO) and Dr. Bruce Lee Hall (interim vice chancellor of human health sciences).—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Verb
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The series, following five associate lawyers in Seoul’s Seocho-dong legal district, cracked the top 5 on Rakuten Viki across 144 regions including the U.S., Brazil, France, U.A.E., and India.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 July 2025
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If your nail beds consistently crack, split, and struggle to grow much at all, this professional-grade cuticle oil will nurse them back to health.—
Lisa DeSantis,
Glamour,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Parrot Jungle ceased operations in Pinecrest and its birds and staff made the move to Miami with the opening of Jungle Island in 2003.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
18 July 2025
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Nissan Stadium's weather policy states that if lightning strikes within eight miles of the stage, the venue must cease the concert and ask show-goers to shelter in place.—
Melonee Hurt,
The Tennessean,
18 July 2025
Verb
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The industry’s year of strikes in 2023 also disrupted the flow of Hollywood movie releases to the local multiplex.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
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Underneath the fun exterior, Red Bull was serious about its ambitions of disrupting F1’s front-runners and assembling a team that was capable of winning a championship.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Hayward then screamed and laughed after some water went into her mouth.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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In addition, footage from a 1999 Victoria’s Secret fashion event in New York shows Trump and Epstein laughing and chatting together ahead of the runway event.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Following their split, the comedian would welcome 10 more kids with five other women.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
-
Revealing the pair hadn’t seen each other since the time of their split, Justin pulled Susie for a conversation.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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