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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of break up
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Jan. 2025
And the 2021 draft class — which also features Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn and leading rusher Chuba Hubbard — has a good chance of being broken up in the aftermath, especially following a 5-12 slate.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2025
Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Hill undermined the organization, especially the culture McDaniel’s trying to build, and there’s the potential that this breakup can have a lasting impact on this team.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break up 
Verb
In total, the group released nine albums during their initial run before breaking up in 1970.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Jan. 2025
And the 2021 draft class — which also features Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn and leading rusher Chuba Hubbard — has a good chance of being broken up in the aftermath, especially following a 5-12 slate.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
Analysts are skeptical a Google breakup will happen, but expect the Trump administration to tackle antitrust concerns surrounding Big Tech.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Hill undermined the organization, especially the culture McDaniel’s trying to build, and there’s the potential that this breakup can have a lasting impact on this team.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break up
Verb
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Austin's departure note said members of his civil rights team would continue their work in different organizations inside Meta, suggesting the team is being disbanded.Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
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The organization has since been bought and formally disbanded.Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Smoking has been linked to the formation of spider veins, so stop or limit smoking to reduce your risk.Laura Schober, Health, 12 Jan. 2025
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The tentative nature of the detection didn’t stop Liang Fu of MIT and Constantin Schrade of Louisiana State University from trying to explain it.Charlie Wood, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On Monday, the US government announced a new round of regulations on global AI chip exports, dividing the world into roughly three tiers of access.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2025
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The number is calculated by dividing births in a year by the average population for the year.Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Much to the lament of American enthusiasts, Mercedes ceased production of the E 63 S wagon last year, which has helped to keep values high.Christian Gilbertsen, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2025
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Without this, a creator’s business may cease to exist—with a human-size hole left in its place.Rodney Mason, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Amyloid plaques accumulate between neurons, disrupting communication and leading to memory loss and cognitive decline, while tau tangles accumulate inside neurons, disrupting their normal function and leading to neuronal death.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
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While many organizations prioritize technology, additional areas outside the technological realm can disrupt security capabilities and affect vulnerability management.Dewayne Hart, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That shared experience of laughing together helps both of us find relaxation.Amanda Schupak, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2025
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Vinicius Jr laughed from the sidelines as assistant Francesco Mauri took him away from the melee.Guillermo Rai, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Her father had left, forcing a split between Freeman and the paternal side of her family.Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
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Hitters weren’t even hitting Matsui hard (see stat to note) and the splits were rather even (.673 OPS against lefties vs. .659), but the stuff certainly didn’t play as well in the United States as the diminutive Matsui’s strikeout rate fell from 12.0 per nine innings to 9.9.Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Break up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20up. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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