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
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
And that feels more like a reason to break up than what movie Kidman appeared in or not.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
While the rapper is currently in a relationship with Jazlyn Mychelle, the high praise comes after Mayweather and YoungBoy had a tumultuous breakup back in 2022.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Verb
Video on social media showed the explosion and its aftermath as remains of the spacecraft were seen breaking up in what looked like a stunning meteor shower.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
And that feels more like a reason to break up than what movie Kidman appeared in or not.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
Marlee Matlin is reflecting on the role Henry Winkler played in turning her life around after her tumultuous breakup from actor William Hurt.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
While the rapper is currently in a relationship with Jazlyn Mychelle, the high praise comes after Mayweather and YoungBoy had a tumultuous breakup back in 2022.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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The group disbanded in 2013 following Watkins’ arrest.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
12 Oct. 2025
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Watkins served as the frontman of the Lostprophets rock band, which formed in 1997 and disbanded following his arrest in 2012.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But her six-figure salary didn’t stop her from using the Foundation as her personal piggy bank, records show.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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Witkoff, Rubio, and Kushner then streamlined the proposal to a two-phase structure—first, a ceasefire and exchange of hostages and prisoners to stop the fighting; second, a framework for Gaza's future, including disarmament and a technocratic transitional government.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Most herbaceous perennials that spread or clump can flourish when divided every few years, such as hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, phlox, and bee balm.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But Uchis never expected to crack the bilingual code this effectively.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
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That would track with current projections, which have four movies expected to crack double digits in total nominations on Oscar morning.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Eventually, the extended family gatherings ceased altogether.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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Eventually, though, the wins and losses cease to matter.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The results reinforce what many pediatric specialists have long suspected—that too much screen exposure in early childhood may disrupt normal brain development.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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Unlike antifa, the Proud Boys actually did something that disrupted the United States federal government and threatened to derail the peaceful transfer of power.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Make people laugh and help people out and just keep that vicious cycle of fun going.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
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There are also shots of the countless members of Swift’s band, dance troupe and stage crew hard at work setting up the show night after night, along with her parents, Scott and Andrea Swift, who are frequently seen smiling and laughing with their daughter.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Despite their split, both parents have continued to be supportive of their sons.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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The gamble backfired and his centrist bloc lost seats to both extremes, leaving France with a three-way split parliament and a government that could not pass major legislation.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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