B2

break down English

Learners of English as a second language usually know the word break down once they have reached the level B2 – Upper Intermediate. English words by learner level A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Meaning break down meaning

What does break down mean?

Definitions in simple English

break down Verb

— If something breaks down, it fails, usually having to do with a machine of some kind. As Betty was driving, her car broke down in the middle of the road.

— If something living breaks down, it decays; it decomposes.

— If someone breaks down, they become unstable, either in their mind or some other way.

— If information or something else is broken down, it is given in great detail.

break down

— verb make ineffective Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination

— verb (= analyze, analyse) make a mathematical, chemical, or grammatical analysis of; break down into components or essential features analyze a specimen analyze a sentence analyze a chemical compound

— verb (= lose it, snap) lose control of one's emotions When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely When her baby died, she snapped

— verb (= fail, die, go, break) stop operating or functioning The engine finally went The car died on the road The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town The coffee maker broke The engine failed on the way to town her eyesight went after the accident

— verb (= crumble) fall apart the building crumbled after the explosion Negotiations broke down

— verb cause to fall or collapse

— verb (= collapse) collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack

— verb (= decompose) separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts

Synonyms break down synonyms

What other words have the same or similar meaning as break down?

break down English » English

break

collapse

break up

fail

decompose

fall in

disintegrate

conk out

demolish

tumble

snap

separate

give out

fall

crush

take apart

stop working

go bad

go

give way

fracture

disperse

die

cut out

crash

crack up

analyze

wound

tear down

take down

spoil

shatter

ruined

resolve

raze

pull down

pack up

obstacle

mistreat

lose it

knock down

kick off

have a bad debt

harm

go kaput

flop

fall senseless

fall apart

drop

dissolove

Topics break down topics

What do people use break down to talk about?

Language and thought

Emotion

• What words describe a person whose emotions are so strong that they lose control?
  hysterical have hysterics go to pieces fall apart break down have an emotional breakdown go berserk snap crack crack up give in to get carried away have a fit

Language and thought Communication Sign, symbol

Cry, tear

• What words refer to starting to cry?
  start to cry start crying burst into tears break down turn on the waterworks get teary

Social behavior Behavior Self-controlled

Lack self-control

• What words refer to a lack of self-control?
  lack self-control indulge overdo permit do something to excess lose control get carried away break down give in to

Work and occupation Tool

Machine

• What words refer to when a machine is not working?
  be off break down broken

Examples break down examples

How do I use break down in a sentence?

Movie subtitles

If you like it, it's good no matter. If you don't like it, I break down.

Did he just break down and cry?

News and current affairs

Once high-flying small economies like Ireland, Hungary, and Iceland break down.