break up

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to end a romantic relationship. It can be used as an intransitive verb (e.g., 'they broke up') or with the preposition 'with' to specify who ended it (e.g., 'she broke up with him'). It is the standard, neutral way to describe the end of a relationship.

Examples

• I was so sad when I heard that Tom and Clara decided to break up.

  I was so sad when I heard that Tom and Clara decided to break up.

• She decided to break up with her boyfriend after three years together.

  She decided to break up with her boyfriend after three years together.

• They break up and get back together almost every other month.

  They break up and get back together almost every other month.

• It is never easy to break up with someone you still care about.

  It is never easy to break up with someone you still care about.

• Why did they break up? I thought they were very happy.

  Why did they break up? I thought they were very happy.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They broke up themselves last week.

  ✓ They broke up last week.

  'Break up' is an intransitive phrasal verb here; do not use reflexive pronouns like 'themselves'.

• ✗ He broke down with his girlfriend.

  ✓ He broke up with his girlfriend.

  'Break down' means to collapse emotionally or to stop working. To end a relationship, use 'break up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After dating for six months, they finally decided to ___.

  💡 To end their relationship.

  Show answer

  break up

• I think he is going to ___ with her tonight.

  💡 Use the base phrasal verb.

  Show answer

  break up