breaks 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of break
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as in reduces
to bring to a lower grade or rank the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander

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4
as in deciphers
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis

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as in plows
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows

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as in dies
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in bankrupts
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts another bad investment could break him

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as in surfaces
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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breaks

2 of 2

noun

plural of break
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2
as in vacations
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended most of the students at the boarding school are going home for Christmas break

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as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place in classic fashion, her big break came when, as an understudy, she took over for an ailing star

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as in accidents
an unexpected benefit or advantage resulting from the uncertain course of events a guy who just seems to get all the breaks in life

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6

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of breaks
Verb
The job is not just knowing the product or having the right answer, but being the person someone calls when something breaks or a deadline slips. Jeremy Fain, Fortune, 1 July 2026 The party has found a kind of rhythm, where the president breaks fundraising records, spreads the wealth around, and, in return, gets to humiliate disloyal Republicans in seats that the party can’t lose. David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 The trend has spread through figures like David Goggins, and outfitter GORUCK breaks the workout into three steps. Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Teams that underestimate it ship something that performs beautifully in test and breaks the first time a patient doesn't follow the script. Saran Siva, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Nothing breaks — because coordination doesn’t claim to house anyone. David Lee Condrey, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2026 What is the everything shower Marie Lodi, writing for Yahoo, breaks it down simply. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026 All hell breaks loose at the table and, not so coincidentally, everyone looks to Porsha to diffuse things. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 But this satisfaction can be cut short if the string on your weed whacker is worn out or breaks mid-task. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Noun
Players have medical staff, three-minute cooling breaks midway through each half, regardless of temperatures, and other heat safeguards. Dorany Pineda, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026 People who must be outside are advised to drink plenty of fluids, take frequent rest breaks and stay in the shade when possible. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026 Hourly walking breaks appear to strike the best balance between being realistic and providing meaningful health benefits. Allison Forsyth, Health, 30 June 2026 To stay safe, people should stay indoors whenever possible, keep well-hydrated, and take frequent breaks from any exertion. Scott Neuman, NPR, 30 June 2026 Roberts added that teams are likely keeping things as familiar to players as possible with every-match hydration breaks still new. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026 For the players, FIFA has implemented three-minute hydration breaks during matches throughout this tournament. Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Tactical flexibility, the ability to sub more players and hydration breaks have proven just as valuable as coaches increasingly win games through in-game adjustments rather than pre-match setups. Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Crews will also be required to take 15-minute breaks every hour. Ashley Paul, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks
Verb
  • Live Local also disrupts years of successful and careful planning by the city to promote compatible, consistent development in neighborhoods like Wynwood.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • After all, the status quo looks safer than making a big bet on something that disrupts everything from operations to revenue.
    James Loffler, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Santorini stops being only a view and starts behaving like a place again.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Workforce needs, customer expectations, and business conditions evolve, and leaders have to be willing to adjust if the model stops delivering results.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.
    Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
  • Skipping the stove and oven also reduces indoor heat, so lean on cold sandwiches, salads and no-cook meals during the worst hours.
    Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Qualcomm’s chip can run Linux, along with Arduino software, and can even do computer vision, which deciphers what a camera sees and translates it into software.
    Kif Leswing, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
  • With that base knowledge and his opponent’s game tape, Nolan analyzes wide receiver alignments and deciphers the offense's attack.
    Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But when her big bro Sherlock (Henry Cavill) goes missing during the festivities, Enola pauses getting hitched to find him and also unearth a military cover-up.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • These pauses in data center permitting and construction give communities time to consider how to define new laws and regulations about the facilities’ location, electricity use, water conservation and noise buffering.
    Rachel Mural, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • The conservative Pacific Research Institute plows the same economic ground in a report.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Each April, Earth plows through its dusty trail — tiny grains burning up in the atmosphere at around 30 miles per second.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Filing a false immigration claim violates anti-fraud statues, according to DHS General Counsel James Percival, and those who file them should be held accountable, according to a memo from Percival and reviewed by ABC News.
    Luke Barr, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • In 2022, a federal judge ruled that the state law violates Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act.
    Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Trust grows when a new product, service or AI feature solves a real challenge and delivers measurable business results.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Many hijinks ensue, including a trip to Persia, a secret pregnancy, many threats to the life and chastity of the young couple, and a war in Egypt that unexpectedly solves everyone’s problems.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Breaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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