Meaning & use
breaking
Last updated
“breaking” is a form of “break”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
noununcountable
the act of something separating into pieces or no longer working
Grammar: Used as a noun, often before another noun: breaking news, breaking point.
Patterns
- breaking of something
- breaking news
The breaking of the glass was heard across the room.
Engineers studied the breaking of the bridge under heavy loads.
The breaking of the ice on the lake happens every spring.
adjectivebefore a noun
happening or reported right now and changing quickly
Grammar: Used mainly in 'breaking news' to describe a story that is still developing.
Patterns
- breaking news
- breaking story
We interrupted the program for breaking news about the storm.
The channel showed breaking news from the scene all morning.
She turned on the radio to hear the latest breaking news.
verbtransitive or intransitive
the -ing form of break; separating into pieces or stopping something
Grammar: Use it after be or another verb: is breaking, stopped breaking.
Patterns
- be breaking
- stop breaking something
The branch is breaking under the weight of the snow.
He kept breaking the rules during the game.
The machine is breaking down again.
Common combinations
- breaking news
- The TV station led with breaking news about the election.
- breaking point
- After weeks of pressure, she reached her breaking point.
- breaking story
- Reporters rushed to cover the breaking story.
- breaking of a rule
- The breaking of a rule led to his suspension.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bursting
- Focuses on something opening or splitting suddenly, often with pressure from inside, while 'breaking' is more general.
- shattering
- Used for glass or hard materials breaking into many small pieces, a stronger and more specific image than 'breaking'.
- cracking
- Means a partial break or line appearing, not a complete separation like 'breaking'.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: breaking or braking?
breaking vs braking
Means slowing a vehicle with brakes, while 'breaking' means separating or stopping something. They sound similar but have different meanings.
Practice
The news channel interrupted the show with ______ news about the earthquake.
Choose one answer.
'Breaking news' is the fixed phrase for a story that is developing right now. 'Braking' is about stopping a car, 'broken' means already damaged, and 'break' is the base verb, not the adjective needed here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “breaking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.