- 1[countable] a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc. a coffee/lunch break Let's take a break. a break for lunch She worked all day without a break. Thesaurusrest
- break
- respite
- time out
- breathing room
- rest a period of relaxing, sleeping, or doing nothing after a period of activity:We stopped for a well-deserved rest.
- break a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat:Let's take a break.
- respite a short break from something difficult or unpleasant:The medicine brought a brief respite from the pain.
- time out (informal) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies:Let's take (some) time out to gather our thoughts.
- breathing room a short rest in the middle of a busy period:I've got very little breathing room in my afternoon schedule.
- (a) rest/break/respite/time out from something
- to have/take (a) rest/break/time out
- to give somebody (a) rest/break/respite/breathing room
- 2[countable] a pause or period of time when something stops before starting again a break in my daily routine Her comment caused an awkward break in their conversation.
- 3[countable] a pause for advertisements in the middle of a television or radio program More news after the break. vacation
- 4[countable] a short vacation We had a weekend break in New York. a well-earned break opening/space
- 5[countable] break (in something) a space or an opening between two or more things We could see the moon through a break in the clouds. Wait for a break in traffic before crossing the road. opportunity
- 6[countable] (informal) an opportunity to do something, usually to get something that you want or to achieve success I got my lucky break when I won a “Young Journalist of the Year” competition. We've had a few bad breaks (= pieces of bad luck) along the way. If you would just give me a break, you won't regret it. change in situation
- 7[singular] the moment when a situation, or a relationship that has existed for a time changes, ends or is interrupted break (with somebody/something) He needed to make a complete break with the past. a break with tradition/convention (= a change from what is accepted, in something such as art, behavior, etc.) break (in something) a break in the weather (= a change from one type of weather to a different one) a break in diplomatic relations
- 8[countable] a place where something, especially a bone in your body, has broken The X-ray showed there was no break in his leg. in tennis
- 9(also break of serve) [countable] a win in a game in which your opponent is serving It was her second break in the set. see break point in billiards
- 10[countable] a series of successful shots by one player; the number of points scored in a series of successful shots He put together a magnificent break. Idioms
- 1a complete separation from a person, an organization, a way of life, etc. She wanted to make a clean break with the past.
- 2a break in a bone in one place
short stop/pause
the moment in the early hours of the morning when it begins to get light
to give someone a chance; to not judge someone too severely Give the guy a break—it's only his second day on the job.
used when someone wants someone else to stop doing or saying something that is annoying, or to stop saying something that is not true
to run toward something in order to try and escape He suddenly leapt up and made a break for the door. They decided to make a break for it (= to try and escape) that night.
Check pronunciation: break