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phrasal verb · B1 · often · UK/US

break down

break down

Meaning of break down

stop functioning

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B1often

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Pronunciation
British English/tə ˈbreɪk daʊn/
American English/tə ˈbreɪk daʊn/
Russian transcription[lɐˈmat͡sə]
break down
break down - ломаться
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break down with Russian translation

break down usage examples

🇷🇺Russian🇬🇧English

Наша машина начала сломалась на шоссе, поэтому нам пришлось вызвать эвакуатор.

Our car began to break down on the highway, so we had to call for a tow.

🇷🇺Russian🇬🇧English

Если игнорировать странные звуки, старый холодильник может сломаться на следующей неделе.

If you ignore the strange noises, the old fridge may break down next week.

Learn by topic

break down belongs to the topic "On the Road". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.

break downломаться
showerдуш
elevatorлифт
towelполотенце
TVтелевизор
viewвид
breakfastзавтрак

break down synonyms

Related word breakdowns

What's the difference between break down / stop working / break / crash / malfunction / fail

🇬🇧English
break down

Neutral phrasal verb meaning to stop functioning or fail mechanically/electronically; can be used for machines, vehicles, systems, or emotional collapse.

B2Very Often

Our car broke down on the motorway.

Наша машина сломалась на трассе.

🇬🇧English

Plain and descriptive phrase meaning cease to function; often used for machines, devices, systems, or processes.

B2Very Often

The heater stopped working last night.

Обогреватель перестал работать прошлой ночью.

B
🇬🇧English
break

Can mean become damaged or cease to function; more general than 'break down' and may imply physical damage.

B2Often

The radio broke after I dropped it.

Радио сломалось после того, как я его уронил.

🇬🇧English

Sudden and often total failure, especially of computers or systems; for vehicles it can mean collision as well.

B2Very Often

The program crashed and I lost my work.

Программа аварийно завершилась, и я потерял работу.

M
🇬🇧English
malfunction

More formal/technical term for failing to function properly; used for machines, devices, organs, or systems.

B2Often

The machine malfunctioned during the test.

Машина дала сбой во время испытания.

🇬🇧English

General verb meaning not to succeed or to cease to work; very broad and can be applied to devices, plans, people, or systems.

B2Very Often

The engine failed and we had to stop.

Двигатель отказал, и нам пришлось остановиться.

G
🇬🇧English
give out

Informal phrasal verb meaning to stop functioning, break, or come to an end (also 'distribute' in other contexts); often used for parts or resources.

B2Often

After hours of driving, the car's alternator gave out.

После нескольких часов вождения генератор машины вышел из строя.

C
🇬🇧English
conk out

Informal phrasal verb meaning to stop working suddenly (often used for engines or devices); colloquial.

B2Rarely

The mower conked out halfway through the lawn.

Газонокосилка заглохла посередине газона.

S
🇬🇧English
seize up

Usually means to lock or jam so that parts cannot move; used for engines, joints, or mechanisms.

B2Often

The gearbox seized up and the car wouldn't move.

Коробка передач заклинила, и машина не поехала.

F
🇬🇧English
fall apart

Often implies physical disintegration or coming apart into pieces; can be used metaphorically (plans, relationships). Less used for mechanical failure that is fixable.

B2Often

The old chair is falling apart.

Старый стул разваливается.

G
🇬🇧English
go wrong

General phrase meaning something fails or does not work as intended; very flexible and used for events, devices, or plans.

B2Very Often

Something went wrong with the heating system.

С системой отопления что-то пошло не так.

S
🇬🇧English
stall

Often used for engines that stop running temporarily (e.g., at idle); can also mean to stop progressing or be delayed.

B2Often

The car stalled at the traffic lights.

Машина заглохла на светофоре.

What's the difference

Related words and lists for break down

How to pronounce break down and what this word means

break down translation: ломаться. This page includes translation, pronunciation, transcription, audio, usage examples and related words.

how to pronounce break down

/tə ˈbreɪk daʊn/

break down translation

ломаться

break down examples

Our car began to break down on the highway, so we had to call for a tow.

break down transcription

/tə ˈbreɪk daʊn/, /tə ˈbreɪk daʊn/

How this dictionary entry is reviewed

ZapomniEnglish prepares dictionary data automatically, then the editorial workflow checks high-frequency words, top lists, and pages that already receive search impressions first.

Translation and meaningPronunciation and transcriptionExamples, synonyms, and topics

Questions about this word

break down meaning: what does it mean?

stop functioning

break down pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?

break down is pronounced as /tə ˈbreɪk daʊn/. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.

break down definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?

Our car began to break down on the highway, so we had to call for a tow. Translation: Наша машина начала сломалась на шоссе, поэтому нам пришлось вызвать эвакуатор.

Is break down part of Climate and Ecology vocabulary?

Yes, break down (ломаться) can be learned in the Climate and Ecology topic. This semantic link helps build related word lists and topic-based practice.

Is break down part of Household Appliances vocabulary?

Yes, break down (ломаться) can be learned in the Household Appliances topic. This semantic link helps build related word lists and topic-based practice.

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