Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

break down

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.10 in modern English

Syllables
break -down
IPA
19
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To stop functioning.

Intransitive verb

verb

To unexpectedly collapse, physically or in structure.

Intransitive verb

verb

To intentionally demolish; to pull down.

Transitive verb

verb

To fail, especially socially or for political reasons.

Intransitive verb

verb

To give in or give up: relent, concede, surrender.

Intransitive verb

verb

To render or to become unstable due to stress, to collapse physically or mentally.

verb

To render or to become weak and ineffective.

verb

To (cause to) decay, to decompose.

Example Sentences

Usage

Inflected Forms

breaks down (present, singular) breaking down (participle, present) broke down (past) broken down (participle, past) broke down (informal, participle) break downs (plural)

Derived Forms

breakdown

Phrases

break-down break down to brass tacks broken down broken-down valise my car has broken down break it down melt down

Frequently Paired Words

break it down break apart break up fall apart fall down tear down wear away wear down

Synonyms

come undone break apart break up take apart tear down tear up analyze catabolize

Questions

What does break down mean?
To stop functioning.

How to pronounce break down

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “break down”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “break down”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “break down” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.