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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 of break down in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Vox Staff, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
Despite her own struggles with rising gas prices and an aging car that frequently broke down, Story continued to support her community with an open heart and an open car door.
—Analisa Novak, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2024
Michael Khouw, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
The New York Times: Here is the early vote breakdown.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break down 
Verb
The Vox team has covered the latest polls, broken down what’s at stake, and shared what our team is looking for this week.
—Vox Staff, Vox, 5 Nov. 2024
Despite her own struggles with rising gas prices and an aging car that frequently broke down, Story continued to support her community with an open heart and an open car door.
—Analisa Novak, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Here’s a breakdown of why Waymo and Cruise may be more persuasive investment choices for those interested in the future of driverless cars.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
The New York Times: Here is the early vote breakdown.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break down
Verb
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The Trust is classified as a 'grantor trust' for United States federal income tax purposes, meaning the Trust itself is not subject to federal income tax.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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Due to this, certain states can be classified as battleground states or swing states, meaning that they can be won by either presidential candidate.Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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If done correctly, leaving your leaves on the ground to decompose has environmental benefits, experts say.Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024
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Straw wattles are made from biodegradable materials and can be left in place to decompose over time, while contour logs or large tree branches offer a more natural-looking solution for rustic landscapes.Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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But that has been analyzed and dismissed by almost every economist and trade group in the country to look at it.Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024
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Anderson says that cloud cover for this eclipse is among the lowest he’s analyzed over the last 45 years.Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The organization, created in 2002 after four students at a Jefferson County high school died by suicide in a nine-month period, is branching out beyond the Front Range.Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
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Suddenly, Stephen is a father again, tearfully clutching a crying boy, the one his son died to save.Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But if anyone’s going to crack this case for real, the safe money’s on Houlihan, the eagle-eyed 25-year-old detective who seems to be the only one with a gut instinct worth following.Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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If not, there will be another opportunity to crack the puzzle tomorrow.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The current probability of the benchmark rate being taken down by another 25 basis points at the December meeting is 78%.Natasha Turak,Matt Clinch, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
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Daryl has the unpleasant task of taking down two people who aren’t hallucinating: Angus and Fiona, the Scottish couple, who turn on Daryl to take the gas masks and save themselves.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Similarly, Philadelphia is on the brink of shattering its record for the longest period without rain, reaching 25 days as of Oct. 24.ABC Climate Unit, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2024
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The 2000s had barely begun before 9/11 shattered any further illusions of safety the ’90s had fostered.Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Set in 1960s Italy, Sally Bishop (Monroe) and her husband travel to a remote villa in the wake of Sally’s nervous breakdown.Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
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As Greenberg, a carpenter on the back end of a nervous breakdown, Stiller lets his normally muscular shoulders slump forward and his eyes refuse to light up with their famous blueness.Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 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 19 Nov. 2024.
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