break up

verb

1. to separate or cause to separate
2. to put an end to (a relationship) or (of a relationship) to come to an end
3. to dissolve or cause to dissolve; disrupt or be disrupted

   the meeting broke up at noon

4. intr (of a school) to close for the holidays
5. intr (of a person making a telephone call) to be inaudible at times, owing to variations in the signal

   you're breaking up

6. informal.
   to lose or cause to lose control of the emotions

   the news of his death broke her up

7. slang.
   to be or cause to be overcome with laughter

noun

1. a separation or disintegration
2. 1. in the Canadian north, the breaking up of the ice on a body of water that marks the beginning of spring
   2. this season

Example Sentences

Raducanu confidently moved a double break up before Hruncakova pinched one back, forcing the British player to again show her resilience.

From BBC

That will reportedly include an effort to break up Google as a consequence of the Justice Department’s successful competition lawsuit against the company.

From New York Times

As of 2022, there were an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and mass deportations would break up mixed-status families and could send shock waves through parts of the economy.

From Los Angeles Times

However, it "took a long time" to come to terms with not having children of her own "because that also maybe would be the main factor that broke up my first marriage", Yeoh said.

From BBC

Police in Romania and Hungary say they have broken up a human trafficking ring that convinced vulnerable people, many just out of foster homes, to work in slave-like conditions in Budapest.

From BBC

Related Words

• adjourn
• disband
• dismantle
• disperse
• disrupt
• dissolve
• divide
• halt
• put an end to
• separate
• split
• stop
• suspend
• terminate