Meaning: Stop functioning:
* The car broke down on the way to the airport. (The car stopped working.)
* My computer keeps breaking down, I need a new one. (The computer is malfunctioning frequently.)
* The negotiations broke down after both sides refused to compromise. (The negotiations failed.)
Meaning: Become overwhelmed with emotion:
* She broke down in tears when she heard the news. (She started crying uncontrollably.)
* He broke down and admitted he was scared. (He couldn't control his emotions and confessed his fear.)
* After the marathon, I was so exhausted I almost broke down. (She was physically and emotionally drained.)
Meaning: Analyze or divide into smaller parts:
* The teacher broke down the problem into smaller steps so the students could understand it. (The teacher explained the problem in a simple way.)
* We need to break down the data to see what trends are emerging. (We need to analyze the data in detail.)
* The scientists broke down the chemical compound to understand its properties. (The scientists separated the chemical compound into its individual parts.)
Meaning: Fail physically or mentally:
* He's been under a lot of stress lately, and I worry he's going to break down. (He's at risk of becoming mentally or emotionally unwell.)
* The soldiers were exhausted and on the verge of breaking down. (The soldiers were close to giving up due to exhaustion.)
* The dam broke down under the pressure of the floodwaters. (The dam was unable to withstand the force of the water.)