1.
to stop working (a car, a machine)
“My car broke down on the motorway.”
“The printer broke down again.”
Synonyms: to malfunction, to fail
Phrasal verb
What does break down mean?
Meaning: to stop working (a machine); to start crying
B1
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Quick answer
Break down = to stop working (a car, a machine). It can also mean to start crying because of strong feelings. My car broke down = my car stopped working. It can also mean to divide a problem into small parts.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
2.
to start crying, to lose control of your feelings
common“She broke down in tears.”
“He broke down at the funeral.”
Synonyms: to collapse, to break into tears
3.
to divide something into parts to explain it
common“Let me break down the problem.”
Synonyms: to analyse, to dissect
Word order
Separable
The object can go between the verb and the particle. With a pronoun (it, them), it always goes between.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- break down
- Past Simple:
- broke down
- Past participle:
- broken down
- -ing form:
- breaking down
Common mistakes to avoid
Irregular verb: broke / broken
Break is irregular: break → broke → broken. The car broke down (Past Simple). The car has broken down (Present Perfect). Never breaked down ❌.
Meaning 1 has no object
When a machine stops working, break down has no object (no noun after it). My car broke down ✓ / I broke my car down ❌.
Meaning 3 is separable
When it means to divide into parts, break down is separable: break down the cost / break the cost down. With a pronoun: break it down.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
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Frequently asked questions
What does break down mean?+
Break down has 3 main meanings: (1) to stop working (a car, a machine); (2) to start crying or lose control of your feelings; (3) to divide something into small parts to explain it. Meaning 1 is the most common in everyday life.
Is break down separable?+
It depends on the meaning. Meanings 1 and 2 have no object, so there is nothing to separate. Meaning 3 (to divide into parts) is separable: Break it down = explain it in small parts.
What does breakdown mean?+
The noun a breakdown (one word) has three meanings: (1) a time when a car or machine stops working (a car breakdown); (2) a time when someone becomes very ill because of stress (a nervous breakdown); (3) a detailed list (a breakdown of the costs).
What does “to have a breakdown” mean?+
It means to become very ill because of stress or sadness, and not be able to live normally for a while. He had a nervous breakdown = he became very ill because of stress. It is a strong, serious meaning.
What does break down a problem mean?+
It means to divide a problem into small parts. Say break down the problem or break the problem down. With a pronoun: break it down. Let me break it down for you = let me explain it step by step.
Related phrasal verbs
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/break-down
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.