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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 • 827 views

break down

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

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.
  • 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

breakdown

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

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.
  • 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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