Meaning & use
breaker
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A large wave that curls and foams as it hits the shore.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural to refer to waves in general: the breakers.
Patterns
- the breakers
- a breaker
The breakers crashed against the rocks.
We watched the breakers roll in from the ocean.
The surfer rode a huge breaker all the way to the beach.
nouncountabletechnical
A safety switch that automatically cuts off electricity when there is too much current.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the full term 'circuit breaker'.
Patterns
- circuit breaker
- flip a breaker
The circuit breaker tripped and the lights went out.
You should check the breaker box if the power fails.
A breaker protects the wiring from overheating.
Word forms
| plural | breakers |
|---|
Common combinations
- circuit breaker
- The circuit breaker saved the house from an electrical fire.
- breaker box
- He went to the basement to check the breaker box.
- ocean breakers
- The ocean breakers were especially strong after the storm.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- break verb
- To separate into pieces or to stop working.
- breakwater noun
- A wall built to protect a shore from waves.
Commonly confused: breaker or break?
breaker vs break
As a verb, 'break' means to separate into pieces; 'breaker' is a noun for a wave or a switch.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The electrician replaced the faulty ______ to prevent power surges.
Choose one answer.
'Breaker' is the noun for the safety switch. 'Break' is a verb or a noun meaning a pause, 'breaking' is a verb form, and 'broke' is past tense, so none fit after 'the faulty'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “breaker”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.