break up — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb3 meanings

break up

end a romantic relationship

separate into smaller pieces

disrupt a gathering

Meaning 1 · most common

end a romantic relationship

break up with sb

When two people break up, they end their romantic relationship.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

After dating for two years, they decided to break up.

A: Did you hear about Mia and Tom?
B: Yeah, they broke up last week.

Common mistake

Not: She broke up her boyfriend last week.

Say: She broke up with her boyfriend last week.

You 'break up WITH' someone — don't drop 'with'.

More on “end a romantic relationship”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, it's better to break up than to stay in an unhappy relationship.

Tell it apart

They broke up after two years.

ended the relationship

They made up after the row.

got back on good terms

Goes with

break up with

Practice saying this

Next meaning: separate into smaller pieces

Meaning 2

separate into smaller pieces

break sth up

To divide something into smaller parts or pieces.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

She broke up the chocolate bar and shared it with her friends.

A: How should we organize the project?
B: Let's break it up into smaller tasks.

Common mistake

Not: Break up the text in shorter paragraphs.

Say: Break the text up into shorter paragraphs.

'Break up INTO' smaller parts, not 'in'.

More on “separate into smaller pieces”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During my presentation, I tried to break up the information so it was easier to understand.

Tell it apart

Break the bread up into chunks.

separate into pieces

The couple broke up last year.

ended their relationship

Goes with

break up + into pieces

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Next meaning: disrupt a gathering

Meaning 3

disrupt a gathering

break up sth

To cause a group of people who have gathered together, especially for a meeting, protest, or other event, to disperse or stop their activity, often by force or official order.

How oftenNow and then

LevelC1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The police were called in to break up the demonstration before it turned violent.

A: Did you hear about the protest in the city centre?
B: Yeah, apparently the authorities broke it up pretty quickly.

Common mistake

Not: Security broke ~~up it.~~

Say: Security broke it up.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'break it up'.

More on “disrupt a gathering”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In some countries, the government may break up public gatherings if they are considered a threat to security or public order.

Tell it apart

Police broke up the demonstration.

forced it to disperse

The couple broke up.

ended their relationship

Goes with

break up + gathering

Practice saying this

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end a romantic relationship separate into smaller pieces disrupt a gathering