breɪk daʊn
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- break
- Particle:
- down
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "break down" mean?
- To stop working or functioning (machines, vehicles)
- To fail or collapse (plans, negotiations, relationships)
- To lose emotional control and start crying
- To divide something into smaller parts for analysis
Examples
- My car broke down on the highway and I had to call for help.
- Negotiations broke down after three days.
- She broke down in tears when she heard the news.
- Let me break down the costs for you.
- The old bridge finally broke down after years of neglect.
How to use it
'Breakdown' (noun) refers to mechanical failure, emotional collapse, or detailed analysis. Very common in technical, emotional, and analytical contexts.
Word order
For machinery/emotions: not separable. For dividing/analyzing: separable ('break the problem down' or 'break down the problem').
Similar expressions
malfunction
fail
collapse
analyze
decompose
Opposites
repair
fix
succeed
build up
Related phrasal verbs
- break up
To end a romantic relationship
- break out
To start suddenly (war, fire, disease, fighting)
- break into
To enter a building illegally by force
- break in
To enter a building illegally, usually by force
- break through
To force a way through a barrier or obstacle
- break off
To separate a piece from something by breaking
Use it in a practice answer
Try "break down" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.