break up
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle up
Meanings
Break into pieces
Why “up”? Filling to the top. Reaching the upper limit means finishing.
“The old boat broke up on the rocks.”
“The dry biscuit broke up in the milk.”
“They broke up the concrete with a drill.”
End a relationship or gathering
Why “up”? An action, effort, relationship, or process stops, becomes weaker, or does not continue.
“They broke up after two years together.”
“The party broke up before midnight.”
Memory hook
A couple splits up — the relationship breaks into pieces.
Common mistake
She broke up her boyfriend.
She broke up with her boyfriend.
End a relationship = break up with someone.
Natural collocations
The word partners “break up” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
In conversation
Are Tom and Mia still together?
No, they broke up last month.
Don't confuse with
Break up means break into pieces. Break down means stop working.
Break up means end a relationship or meeting. Break out means start suddenly.
Break up means end a relationship or gathering. Break off means end something suddenly.
Test yourself
“The old boat broke up on the rocks.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
break down
A contrast learners often mix up
(of a vehicle or machine) stop working; Lose emotional control and start crying; Separate something into smaller parts to understand it; (of negotiations or relationships) fail or end; Force a door open by hitting it; Decompose into simpler chemical substances
break off
A contrast learners often mix up
Suddenly end a relationship, discussion, activity, or official contact; Detach a piece from something larger by breaking; Take a short pause from an activity
break out
A contrast learners often mix up
(of war, fire or disease) Start suddenly; Escape from a locked or guarded place
add up
Same up pattern: finishing
Combine into a larger total; Make sense or seem true
call up
Same up pattern: finishing
Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team
clean up
Same up pattern: finishing
Tidy thoroughly
clear up
Same up pattern: finishing
Tidy a place by putting things away; (of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud; Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it; (of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better; Solve a mystery or unsolved problem
close up
Same up pattern: finishing
Shut a shop or building, often at the end of the day; Move closer together so there is no gap; (of a wound or opening) heal or seal itself; Become silent or unwilling to share feelings
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “break up”.
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “break up” in Sink In
Drill “break up” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
