1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition
the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long
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3
as in to analyze
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships
if we break the problem down into what appear to be three aspects of it, we'll have a better chance of solving it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop functioning
the computer finally broke down and had to be replaced
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to crack
to yield to mental or emotional stress
began to break down when he realized that he was on the verge of bankruptcy
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6
as in to take down
to take apart
the crew was breaking down the party tent when we arrived
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7
as in to shatter
to cause to break with violence and much noise
firefighters had to break down the wall to rescue the kitten
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1
as in nervous breakdown
a mental or nervous collapse
if you don't ease your workload, you're going to have a breakdown
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2
as in decomposition
the process by which dead organic matter separates into simpler substances
the breakdown of the body was arrested by the embalming process
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3
as in analysis
the separation and identification of the parts of a whole
the boss wanted a detailed breakdown of the sales figures
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of break down
Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 15 Jan. 2025
The 2024 point-in-time count does not break down the statistics by city.
—Abe Aboraya, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
Jennifer Weil, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025
Slattery claimed that breakdown included locking himself in his apartment and tossing his furniture into a river.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break down 
Verb
The vinegar will break down any remaining bits of food, grease, soap scum, residue, and any other leftover grime.
—Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 15 Jan. 2025
The 2024 point-in-time count does not break down the statistics by city.
—Abe Aboraya, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
That compares to the average breakdown in India, which was 58 percent Instagram, 26 percent YouTube and 9 percent Facebook.
—Jennifer Weil, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025
Slattery claimed that breakdown included locking himself in his apartment and tossing his furniture into a river.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
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Not a nor'easter Monday's snowstorm will not be classified as a classic nor'easter, Taylor said, which are some of the most infamous winter storms for East Coasters.Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
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And our findings have broader implications for how species are classified and protected under conservation laws.Andre A. Naranjo, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Park, the man who lost his brother and was speaking on behalf of other families, said Monday that more freezing containers were needed to keep the bodies from decomposing amid rising temperatures.Stella Kim, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024
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Over the centuries, the decomposing bodies left cavities inside the hardened mineral casings.Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This article was generated by the Kansas City Star Bot, artificial intelligence software that analyzes structured information from TomTom and applies it to templates created by journalists in the newsroom.Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025
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Our methodology To determine the best invoicing software for small businesses, CNBC Select analyzed several invoicing service providers.Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Fullerton police said the two people who died are believed to have been inside the plane at the time of the crash.Alex Stone, ABC News, 3 Jan. 2025
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In January 2013 — the family’s annus horribilis — Vittorio Missoni died in a plane crash off the Venezuelan coast.Luisa Zargani, WWD, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Plates heaped with rice and aromatic curries showcase the island’s culinary riches, while orange king coconuts are cracked open and offered as a sweet, refreshing balm to the humid heat.Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
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Coach Andy Reid’s mustache froze, Patrick Mahomes’ helmet cracked and the Chiefs jumped to a 10-0 lead early and won easily.Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Last month’s waves took down construction equipment and a restroom building, according to city officials.Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025
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The Fighting Irish are moving on in the College Football Playoff, as No. 7 Notre Dame took down No. 2 Georgia, 23-10, to earn their spot in the semifinals.Scott Thompson, Fox News, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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An ugly ownership dispute spilled into public view this week, throwing the San Diego Padres into turmoil, shattering the quiet that defined their winter and raising questions about how the resulting uncertainty will affect the operation of the team.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Today, that internationalist consensus has shattered.Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In the 2023 series, which was canceled after one season, Depp played pop star Jocelyn, who returns to the limelight after a nervous breakdown forced her to cancel her last tour, becoming involved with self-help guru Tedros (The Weeknd) and his cult.Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 Jan. 2025
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In that way, this sculpture’s appearance foreshadows the nervous breakdown that caused de Saint Phalle to be committed, with her consent, to a mental institution.Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near break down
Cite this Entry
“Break down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20down. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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