“Break down” is a phrasal verb that has multiple meanings depending on the context. It generally refers to the act of ceasing to function properly, experiencing a failure, or falling into disrepair. It can be used to describe a mechanical or technical failure, as well as a collapse or deterioration of a system, relationship, or mental state. Additionally, “break down” can also mean to analyze or divide something into smaller parts for a better understanding.
Here are 10 sample sentences illustrating the different uses of “break down”:
- My car broke down on the highway, and I had to call for assistance.
- The negotiations between the two countries broke down due to disagreements.
- I’m sorry, but I can’t come to the meeting; something urgent came up and my plans broke down.
- The computer system broke down, and we lost all our data.
- She couldn’t handle the stress anymore and had a mental breakdown.
- Can you help me break down the problem into smaller steps?
- The relationship between them gradually broke down over time.
- The old house is starting to break down; it needs significant repairs.
- The communication barrier caused the conversation to break down.
- The speaker used charts and graphs to break down complex concepts.
Synonyms:
- Malfunction
- fail
- stop working
- crash
- go wrong
- Collapse
- deteriorate
- disintegrate
- crumble
- decay
- Analyze, dissect, deconstruct, separate, categorize
- Deconstruct: memecah-mecah
- Succumb: menyerah
- Give way: memberi jalan
- Break apart: pecah
- Break up: bubar
- Wear out: aus
- Cave in: ambruk
- Crack: retak
- Crumple: berkerut
- Go to pieces: hancur berkeping-keping
- Come apart: terpisah
- Go haywire: rusak
- Go south: bermasalah
- Go kaput: rusak
- Go awry: salah
- Break off: putus
Antonyms:
- Function, work, operate, run smoothly
- Succeed, thrive, improve, strengthen, flourish
- Combine, unite, integrate, assemble, construct
Related words:
- Break down into, break down from
- Break down barriers, break down resistance
- Break down tasks, break down information
Phrasal verbs:
- Break down into
- Break down from
- Break down barriers
- Break down tasks
- Break down mentally
Idioms:
- Break down in tears
- Break down the door
- Break down the walls
- Break the silence down
- Break someone down
In conclusion, “break down” is a versatile phrasal verb with various meanings. It can refer to the failure or malfunction of a mechanical or technical system, the collapse or deterioration of a relationship or mental state, or the analysis and division of something into smaller parts. Understanding the different contexts in which “break down” is used enhances effective communication and comprehension in English.