breaking

present participle of break
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as in reducing
to bring to a lower grade or rank the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander

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4
as in deciphering
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis

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as in plowing
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows

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as in dying
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in bankrupting
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts another bad investment could break him

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as in surfacing
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of breaking Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024 Epic parties to kid-friendly fun Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 24 Dec. 2024 The wide receiver exploded into the NFL last year, breaking multiple records in his debut campaign for the Los Angeles Rams, a remarkable achievement for a fifth round pick out of BYU. Ben Morse, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024 Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024 Without breaking stride, Hunter blew past four more Utah defenders and hopped into the end zone, a broken play transformed into a work of art. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024 Lacking a tie-breaking vote could delay action at the FTC, such as when the commission was divided over 7-Eleven’s $21 billion purchase of Speedway stores in 2021. William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 Rebecca Cohen Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 Minyvonne Burke Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking
Verb
  • Protests keep disrupting life in Dhaka, the capital.
    Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Mass deportations and reductions in legal immigration could lead to significant labor shortages, disrupting productivity and economic stability.
    Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • After stopping the vehicle, Jackson reportedly ran from the car with a gun in his hand, according to court records.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2025
  • It can also be caused by significant stress, surgery, or stopping birth control pills.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This could ensure more consistent calls, reducing the controversy often seen in high-stakes games.
    Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • State governments, as well as drug manufacturers, provide financial help to the uninsured, often reducing the cost of PrEP medicines to zero.
    James K. Glassman, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Even in districts that have staff dedicated to teaching Black history, some teachers are afraid of violating state law, according to Brian Knowles, who oversees African American, Holocaust and Latino studies for the Palm Beach County school district.
    Kate Payne, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
  • That year, the campaign finance regulator separately found that Wyss’s groups failed to provide evidence of certain grant agreements upon conservatives accusing him of violating laws on foreign nationals making donations.
    Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Both retail and institutional interest led to holistic industry growth in 2024, driving new use cases and solving for real-world problems.
    Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Is your brand focused on sustainability, inclusivity or solving specific skin concerns?
    Lara Devgan, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Estate Taxes The federal estate tax exclusion for decedents dying in 2025 will increase to $13,990,000 per person, or $27,980,000 per married couple.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Two people were stabbed at a transit station in Queens, with one of them dying, and a woman was set on fire and died on a subway car in Brooklyn.
    Jack Birle, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Three top concerns include elections and political turmoil that threaten progress, companies retreating or staying silent on DEI and ESG goals, and the rise of sustainability reporting that’s (temporarily) taking up companies’ time.
    Andrew Winston, Harvard Business Review, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Deporting millions of immigrants and retreating from global trade by implementing slogans like America First will not achieve these goals.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In November, with avian flu spreading, the agriculture and public health departments jointly issued information and guidance for consumers about milk safety, raw milk and the rules in Connecticut.
    Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Center John Michael Schmitz and tackles Andrew Thomas and Joshua Miles were among the teammates to join in spreading the Christmas cheer and hosting the special shopping experiences.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near breaking

Cite this Entry

“Breaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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