break down vs breakdown

Both 'break down' and 'breakdown' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Break down' is a phrasal verb meaning to stop working, while 'breakdown' is a noun referring to a failure or collapse. The choice between them depends on whether you are using the verb or the noun form.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1057 views

This is a correct phrasal verb used to describe something stopping working or functioning.

"break down"

Use 'break down' when you want to describe something that has stopped working or functioning properly. It is a phrasal verb that can be used in various contexts.

Examples:

My car broke down on the way to work.
The computer system broke down due to a power surge.
She tends to break down when under a lot of stress.

Show examples from the web [+]

We could even break down the whole partition.
When talking about those reasons, let's break down certain preconceptions.
Some networks can sometimes break down.
Especially if it will help break down the social barriers between capital and labour.
The field of intelligence employs analysts to break down and understand a wide array of questions.
Without good communication, relationships break down.
James gave me a ride after he saw my car break down.
We had to break down the door.
High-end vehicles like these break down a lot in the desert.
They're using some kind of disruptor to break down the force field.
So, theoretically by using infrasound waves we could break down their particle structure.
UV-C radiation is able to break down chemical bonds.
The fibrinolytic system then functions to break down fibrinogen and fibrin.
The lactase enzyme has two active sites which break down lactose.
Psychologists have theorized that humans mentally break down images into simple geometric shapes called geons.
Catabolism is the set of metabolic processes that break down large molecules.
Click on a molecule and it will break down to atoms, which themselves will break down other molecules on impact.
Estranged husband tries to break down the door.
Carbohydrates break down into glucose molecules.
This cell casing is already beginning to break down.

Alternatives:

stop working
malfunction
cease to function
fall apart
crash

This is a correct noun used to describe a failure or collapse of something.

"breakdown"

Use 'breakdown' when you want to refer to the process of something failing or collapsing. It is a noun that can be used to describe various types of failures.

Examples:

The breakdown of the negotiations led to a stalemate.
The breakdown of the machine was caused by a loose wire.
She had an emotional breakdown after the loss of her pet.

Show examples from the web [+]

Coffee-Mate has a different breakdown for their coffee creamer flavors.
Chart 1 shows the breakdown of capacity per country.
Currency breakdown for transactions and positions.
No maturity breakdown is required for shares/units issued by MMFs.
Avalanche breakdown within a dielectric material.
He had a psychological breakdown in 2001.
This breakdown is required for enhancing consistency among statistics.
Unsuccessful development features a breakdown at any stage.
Furthermore, with suitable magnetic field intensity can reduce crystallizer breakdown.
Warranties providing less coverage only pay for mechanical breakdown.
It's like a complete breakdown of culture and manners.
What? Responsible for the breakdown of the fabric of society and world order.
You will have a breakdown eventually.
And where the breakdown comes in the system we don't always know.
Socioeconomic breakdown's all over the map.
We came to collect him after his breakdown.
Mary's behavior is definitely indicative of someone in the midst of an emotional breakdown.
No, I'm not having a breakdown.
Finch, looks like our billionaire might be having a breakdown.
But only a very small minority avoid breakdown after prolonged exposure.

Alternatives:

failure
collapse
malfunction
disintegration
crash

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break down vs breakdown

"break down"

"breakdown"

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