Phrasal verb
Break up
What does 'break up' mean?
'Break up' means ending a romantic relationship, ending or dispersing a gathering, dividing something, or describing unclear audio. For example, 'The team broke the task up into stages.' Use 'break up with' to name a romantic partner, and place pronouns between 'break' and 'up' with objects.
Key points
- 'Break up' has four common meanings.
- Use 'break up with' for a romantic partner.
- Use 'break up' with 'into' for division.
- Pronouns go between 'break' and 'up'.
Can you use "Break up" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
Watch & learn
Break up
Distinguish relationship, gathering, division, and poor-connection meanings of break up, and apply correct word order in everyday spoken and written English.
Line 1 of 7 · Theo
Theo: . At , we up.
Say this line out loud, then continue.
The video could not continue. Try again or use the transcript below.
Your session
Learn with the video 15 min
Watch a short part, answer one question, practise what you heard, then check in with the tutor.
The first part is free. Members continue to part 2 and can ask for more.
Key words in this video
Example
Memory tip
Goes with
Related forms
Not to be confused with
From this video
We couldn't load this word. Try again.
The full explanation
Break up expresses four main ideas in modern English. First, it describes romantic partners ending a relationship. Second, it describes people in a gathering dispersing or an organizer ending an event. Third, it means dividing something larger into smaller pieces or groups. Fourth, it describes an unstable voice or video signal that cuts out during a conversation.
Carlos and Maya agreed to break up after discussing their long-term career goals.
Why it works: Intransitive verb phrase describing two partners ending a romantic partnership.
3 more examples
-
The teacher decided to break the class up into pairs for the speaking activity.
Separable transitive verb phrase showing an organizer dividing a large group into smaller units.
-
Your voice is breaking up, so I will call you back once I leave the parking garage.
Present continuous intransitive verb phrase describing interrupted audio on a telephone call.
-
The conference broke up at five o'clock so participants could catch their evening trains.
Intransitive verb phrase describing a gathering dispersing at the scheduled closing time.
Read the full guide
Recognize When a Relationship Ends
When two people end a romantic partnership, English speakers use the phrasal verb break up. In this context, the verb functions intransitively, meaning both people together form the subject of the sentence. You do not place one partner as an object directly after the verb. The phrase conveys that the romantic bond has stopped, and it regularly appears with past tense verbs such as broke up or present perfect forms such as have broken up.
-
Carlos and Maya broke up after college when they moved to different states.
Why it works: Carlos and Maya form the plural subject, showing a shared romantic split.
-
My roommate broke up with her partner last weekend.
Why it works: The preposition with introduces the partner who did not initiate the action.
Your turn
Which sentence correctly describes two partners ending their relationship?
Answer: David and his partner broke up after several difficult arguments.
Show the answer
Answer: David and his partner broke up after several difficult arguments.
The romantic meaning is intransitive; both partners must form the subject together rather than acting as a direct object.
Choose With When One Person Leaves
Learners often wonder how to indicate who initiated the split when only one person ended the relationship. To name the person who made the decision, place that individual as the subject, followed by the phrasal verb, and introduce the other partner with the preposition with. Never place the person who was left directly between break and up. Saying that someone broke a person up either sounds like physical violence or means that someone made that person laugh uncontrollably in informal slang.
-
Rachel chose to break up with Tom because they wanted different lifestyles.
Why it works: Rachel is the subject who initiated the split, and Tom follows the preposition with.
-
He did not want to break up with her over a simple text message.
Why it works: Using with keeps the phrasal verb grammatically intransitive while naming the recipient.
This also comes up in Call off and Repair inspection fee and quote.
Your turn
Select the sentence where one person ends the relationship grammatically.
Answer: Liam broke up with Sophia after they discussed their wedding plans.
Show the answer
Answer: Liam broke up with Sophia after they discussed their wedding plans.
Using the preposition with correctly connects the person initiating the breakup to their former partner.
Disperse a Meeting or Social Gathering
Beyond romance, break up describes the conclusion of a gathering such as a meeting, party, seminar, or rally. When the event or the crowd itself serves as the subject, the verb is intransitive, indicating that the people dispersed and went home. When an organizer, host, or security authority stops the event, the verb becomes transitive and separable. You can break up a fight, break up a crowd, or break up an afternoon session so people can rest.
-
The committee meeting broke up around four o'clock when the agenda was finished.
Why it works: The meeting is the subject, showing that attendees dispersed naturally.
-
The building manager had to break the party up because the music was too loud.
Why it works: The manager is the agent who actively stopped the social event.
Your turn
What does it mean if an organizer says, 'Let us break up the meeting now'?
Answer: The organizer wants to conclude the gathering so people can leave.
Show the answer
Answer: The organizer wants to conclude the gathering so people can leave.
In event contexts, breaking up a meeting means bringing the gathering to an official close.
Divide Tasks or Physical Objects Into Parts
A common workplace and practical meaning of break up is dividing a large unit into smaller, more manageable components. In this context, the verb takes an object and is usually followed by the preposition into. You can break up an eight-hour workshop into modules, break up a large financial budget into departmental targets, or break up a tablet of medication into halves. This usage always signals organized division rather than total cancellation.
-
We should break up the project into four milestones to track progress better.
Why it works: The preposition into signals division into sequential smaller goals.
-
The chef broke the chocolate bar up into small squares for the dessert.
Why it works: Physical separation of a solid item into smaller pieces.
Your turn
Which preposition typically follows break up when dividing a project into pieces?
Answer: into
Show the answer
Answer: into
The preposition into connects the verb break up to the resulting smaller pieces or categories.
Report an Unclear Voice on Calls
In remote meetings and mobile telephone calls, audio frequently becomes choppy or incomplete due to weak signals or network lag. When you miss words because syllables drop out, tell the speaker that they are breaking up. This use requires an ongoing continuous tense because the audio breakdown is happening during the conversation. You describe the person speaking or their voice as the subject, never the telephone equipment itself as a direct object.
-
You are breaking up, so could you please repeat that last number?
Why it works: Present continuous expresses real-time sound interruption on a call.
-
Her voice began breaking up as her car entered the underground tunnel.
Why it works: The subject her voice identifies the choppy sound signal during transmission.
Your turn
What should you say to a colleague whose microphone signal is cutting out on a call?
Answer: You are breaking up right now.
Show the answer
Answer: You are breaking up right now.
The present continuous phrase 'you are breaking up' is the standard way to report choppy audio.
Place Pronouns Between Break and Up
When break up takes a direct object in division or event-ending contexts, word order follows strict rules. If the direct object is a full noun phrase, you can place it either after the particle up or between break and up. However, if the direct object is a pronoun such as it, them, or this, the pronoun must sit between the verb and the particle. Placing a pronoun after up produces an ungrammatical sentence in standard English.
-
The loud dispute frightened customers, so the security guard broke it up.
Why it works: The pronoun it sits strictly between broke and up.
-
We have two long reports, so let us break them up into separate review rounds.
Why it works: The pronoun them must separate the verb and particle.
Your turn
Which sentence shows the correct word order with a pronoun object?
Answer: The security guard broke it up immediately.
Show the answer
Answer: The security guard broke it up immediately.
Pronoun objects must sit directly between the verb break and the particle up.
Distinguish the Two-Word Verb From the Noun
Spelling and pronunciation separate the two-word verb break up from the compound noun breakup. The two-word form functions as an action verb, and primary spoken stress lands on the particle up. The single-word form is a noun that accepts articles like a or the and plural suffixes like breakups. When speaking the noun, native speakers place primary stress on the first syllable break, leaving up unstressed. Confusing these forms in professional writing makes your sentences look unedited.
-
Their sudden breakup surprised everyone in the office.
Why it works: Single-word noun functioning as the subject with first-syllable stress.
-
They did not want to break up while working on the same team.
Why it works: Two-word verb phrase following an infinitive marker with stress on up.
Your turn
Choose the sentence that correctly uses the noun form.
Answer: The breakup was difficult, but both colleagues stayed professional.
Show the answer
Answer: The breakup was difficult, but both colleagues stayed professional.
Breakup written as a single word is a noun preceded by the definite article the.
Catch the Sound Linking in Fast Speech
In fluent conversation, speakers do not pause between the word break and the particle up. The final consonant /k/ links smoothly to the following vowel sound /ʌ/, creating the continuous flow /breɪ-kʌp/. In past tense speech, broke up links as /broʊ-kʌp/. In negative sentences, weak words like did not or could not often contract to didn't or couldn't, which makes the verb phrase carry even heavier stress. Listening for this linked /k/ sound prevents you from confusing break with other verbs like take or make.
-
They broke up quietly without making any public announcement.
Why it works: The /k/ of broke connects directly to the vowel in up, sounding like /broʊ-kʌp/.
-
Why did you break up the discussion so abruptly?
Why it works: The linked /kʌp/ sound carries primary sentence emphasis.
Your turn
How does the sound transition between 'break' and 'up' typically sound in natural speech?
Answer: The /k/ sound connects directly to the vowel sound /ʌ/ without a gap.
Show the answer
Answer: The /k/ sound connects directly to the vowel sound /ʌ/ without a gap.
Consonant-to-vowel linking connects the final /k/ of break directly to the vowel /ʌ/ of up.
Other meanings of "break up"
This lesson practises one meaning. You may also hear these.
To end or disperse a gathering
The meeting broke up after lunch.
To divide something into smaller parts or groups
They broke the job up into stages.
For a voice or signal to become unclear
Your voice is breaking up.
Common mistakes with "break up"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
Ella broke up her boyfriend with last month.Say: Ella broke up with her boyfriend last month.
For a romantic partner, use 'break up with', not an object between 'break' and 'up'.
-
Not this:
The officer broke up it quickly.Say: The officer broke it up quickly.
A pronoun object must come between 'broke' and 'up'.
-
Not this:
We broke up the plan in four stages.Say: We broke up the plan into four stages.
'Into' introduces the smaller parts created by division.
-
Not this:
Their break up was unexpected.Say: Their breakup was unexpected.
The noun form is always written as one word.
Use it naturally
How people really use “break up”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- break up withShe decided to break up with her boyfriend before moving abroad.
- break up intoWe will break up into small teams for the game.
- break up earlyThe meeting might break up early if we finish everything.
- voice is breaking upYour voice is breaking up, so please call me again.
What people also say
- “Your voice is breaking up.” instead of “Your voice has interruptions.” Use this when parts of someone's speech disappear during a call.
- “Let's break it up into smaller parts.” instead of “Let's break up it into smaller parts.” Put the pronoun between break and up.
Related forms
- breakup nounHe spent more time with friends after the breakup.
Questions about "Break up"
What is the difference between break up as two words and breakup as one word?
Break up with a space is a verb phrase showing an action, such as ending a relationship or dividing an event. Breakup as a single word is a noun referring to the event itself. When you need an action verb, use two words. When you place an article like a or the in front of the word, use the single noun form.
They chose to break up after several quiet conversations.
The breakup was painful, but both partners handled it with maturity.
Can I say 'Nina broke Alex up' if she ended the romantic relationship?
No. When break up refers to a romantic relationship, it is intransitive. You cannot place the person who was left directly after the verb. Instead, mention both people as the subject, or use the preposition with to introduce the partner who did not start the split.
Nina broke up with Alex last week after discussing their future.
Nina and Alex broke up on good terms.
Is break up separable when talking about gatherings or physical items?
Yes. When you divide an object or end a gathering, the verb can take an object. You can place a noun between break and up or after up. If you replace the noun with a pronoun such as it or them, the pronoun must go between break and up.
The moderator decided to break up the heated debate.
The crowd became too loud, so security officers broke it up quickly.
Why do native speakers say 'you are breaking up' instead of 'you break up' on phone calls?
Weak audio connections happen in real time while someone is speaking. English uses the present continuous form 'you are breaking up' to describe an ongoing temporary problem with the sound quality right now. The simple present form would describe a habitual routine, which is rarely what you mean during a call.
Please hold on for a second because you are breaking up.
Whenever the train passes through this valley, your voice starts breaking up.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the surrounding sentence to determine the role of break up. Look for romantic subjects or with for relationships, into for division, crowd or meeting nouns for gatherings, and continuous tenses on calls for bad audio. Remember to write the verb as two words and the noun as one.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
From the video? The same four practices are here in full: listen, read, speak and write. Back to the video
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- The teacher decided to break the class up into pairs for the speaking activity.
- Your voice is breaking up, so I will call you back once I leave the parking garage.
Read the transcript
Your voice is breaking up again because your connection dropped.
The speaker describes choppy telephone or video sound quality using the present continuous form 'breaking up'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'up again,' listen for 'u-pagain,' with the p joining the start of 'again.'
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'up again,' listen for 'u-pagain,' with the p joining the start of 'again.'
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'up again,' listen for 'u-pagain,' with the p joining the start of 'again.'
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- The teacher decided to break the class up into pairs for the speaking activity.
- Your voice is breaking up, so I will call you back once I leave the parking garage.
Read the transcript
They chose to break up after two years together.
The phrase 'break up' here functions as an intransitive verb meaning to end a romantic relationship.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'break up,' listen for 'brea-kup,' with the k joining 'up' without a pause.
- In 'to break,' listen for 'tuh,' a short, unstressed form of 'to.'
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'break up,' listen for 'brea-kup,' with the k joining 'up' without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'to break,' listen for 'tuh,' a short, unstressed form of 'to.'
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'break up,' listen for 'brea-kup,' with the k joining 'up' without a pause.
- In 'to break,' listen for 'tuh,' a short, unstressed form of 'to.'
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- The teacher decided to break the class up into pairs for the speaking activity.
- Your voice is breaking up, so I will call you back once I leave the parking garage.
Read the transcript
We can break up into small groups now so everyone gets a chance to share an opinion.
When dividing people or activities into smaller groups, 'break up' is followed by the preposition 'into'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'up into,' listen for 'u-pinto,' with the p joining the start of 'into.'
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'up into,' listen for 'u-pinto,' with the p joining the start of 'into.'
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'up into,' listen for 'u-pinto,' with the p joining the start of 'into.'
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- The teacher decided to break the class up into pairs for the speaking activity.
- Your voice is breaking up, so I will call you back once I leave the parking garage.
Read the transcript
We should break up our presentation into three clear parts. The first section covers our progress, the second explains our expenses, and our final section introduces next steps. When we divide our material like this, our listeners stay alert and ask better questions during our open discussion.
The speaker uses 'break up' with the direct object 'our presentation' to show structured division into parts.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Practice complete
You listened closely.
Your result is saved in this browser.
Keep your progress. Your practice is saved on this device only. Create a free account to keep it everywhere.
Create a free accountThat was today's free lesson. Tomorrow you get another one. Want more today? See membership.
Create a free SubLearn account to keep this progress across devices.
Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
Your voice is breaking up again because your connection dropped.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory. Imagine two friends who are dating want to live in different countries. Explain why they might break up, how they could discuss their decision, and how you would support them afterward.
Use: break up
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
My friends Anna and Ben might break up because they want different things. Anna wants to move to Spain, but Ben wants to stay near his family in Canada. I think they should find a quiet place and talk honestly about their plans. They still care about each other, so this will be difficult. I would listen to both of them without choosing a side. Afterward, I could invite Anna for a walk or cook dinner with Ben. They might need some time alone before they feel ready to be friends.
Try once more and answer this: Do you think they could stay friends?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
Write about your own day or week using it, then write a message.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “break up”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
Write your own response
Choose a situation and write 30–50 words in your own wording. This is separate from typing the exact words in a recording.
Check your own writing
Read one possible response
Use these checks to revise your message. Grammar and meaning are not automatically graded. Each task keeps its own draft in this browser tab.
You finished the free part of this lesson
- Understand
- Listen
- Speak
- Write
- CheckPart of membership
Worth another look
With a free account, the lessons you finish come back for review to help you remember them.Create a free account
Stage 5 of 5 · Part of membership
Check
New clips without hints.
Listening tests are included with membership. Try the free dictation first, then decide whether to continue.
Listening 1 of 2 Part of membership
Listening 2 of 2 Part of membership
Follow MicroEnglish
New lessons, short videos and quick quizzes every day. Pick the app you already use.
Questions & comments
Ask about this lesson, share an example, or help another learner.
Example
Memory tip
Goes with
Related forms
Not to be confused with
In this lesson
This word isn't in our dictionary. Check the spelling, or try another form of the word.
We couldn't load this word. Try again.
