1.
to end a relationship
“They broke up last month.”
“She broke up with him.”
Synonyms: to split up, to separate
Phrasal verb
What does break up mean?
Meaning: to end a relationship; to break into pieces
B1
This page for:
Quick answer
Break up = to end a relationship (a couple) or to break into pieces. They broke up last month = they are not a couple any more. In British English, it also means to finish school for the holidays.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
2.
to break into pieces; to separate
common“The ice broke up in spring.”
“The crowd broke up.”
3.
to finish school for the holidays (UK)
common“When do you break up for the holidays?”
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 up
- Past Simple:
- broke up
- Past participle:
- broken up
- -ing form:
- breaking up
Common mistakes to avoid
Break up WITH someone
Use with to say who: I broke up with my boyfriend ✓. Never I broke up my boyfriend ❌. Without with, the subject is the couple: They broke up.
Irregular verb: broke / broken
Break → broke → broken. They broke up (Past Simple). They have broken up (Present Perfect). It works like break down. Never breaked up ❌.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: break up
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
Break up: you understand the rule. Now practise it.
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English contestBreak up: often tested in the English contest
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Frequently asked questions
What does break up mean?+
Break up = (1) to end a relationship; (2) to break into pieces, or to separate; (3) in British English, to finish school before the holidays. Meaning 1 is the most common.
Is break up separable?+
For a couple, it takes no object: add with to say who (She broke up with him). Meanings 2 and 3 take no object either. So it is almost never separable.
What is the difference between break up and split up?+
Both mean to end a relationship. Break up is a little more common and sounds stronger. Split up is more neutral. They broke up / They split up: you can use either.
What is a breakup?+
A breakup (one word) is the end of a relationship. After the breakup, she felt sad. It is the noun that comes from the phrasal verb.
How do you say politely that a couple separated?+
They split up, They broke up or, more formally, They parted ways. They're no longer together is very neutral and polite.
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-up
© 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.