Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

break

verb [I or T] (EMOTION)
 
 
/breɪk/ (broke, broken)

Definition

to lose your confidence, determination, or ability to control yourself, or to make someone do this: He thought she would break under the strain. They tried to break his will (= make him lose his control) but he resisted.Becoming and making less strong
(Definition of break verb (EMOTION) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
Focus on the pronunciation of break

Word of the Day

demur

to express disagreement or refuse to do something

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More