split up

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to end a romantic relationship, marriage, or partnership. It is a very common, neutral way to say that a couple has separated. It can be used transitively or with the preposition 'with' to specify the person.

Examples

• I was so sad to hear that Sarah and David decided to split up after five years.

  I was so sad to hear that Sarah and David decided to split up after five years.

• They split up last month, but they are still good friends.

  They split up last month, but they are still good friends.

• Did you know that the band split up because of creative differences?

  Did you know that the band split up because of creative differences?

• He was devastated when his girlfriend split up with him over text.

  He was devastated when his girlfriend split up with him over text.

• Sometimes it is better to split up than to stay in an unhappy relationship.

  Sometimes it is better to split up than to stay in an unhappy relationship.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They split up themselves last week.

  ✓ They split up last week.

  The phrasal verb 'split up' is intransitive when referring to a couple ending their relationship, so you do not need a reflexive pronoun like 'themselves'.

• ✗ She split up from her boyfriend.

  ✓ She split up with her boyfriend.

  To indicate the person with whom the relationship ended, always use the preposition 'with' instead of 'from'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After months of arguing, they finally decided to ___ last week.

  💡 Phrasal verb meaning to end a relationship.

  Show answer

  split up

• I can't believe Jack ___ up with Jessica after all this time.

  💡 Use the past tense form of the first verb.

  Show answer

  split