breakable
gb/bɹˈeɪkəbəl/ us/bɹˈeɪkəbəl/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
easily broken; fragile
If something is breakable, it can break easily.
Usage pattern:
[something] is breakable
Common mistake:
Don’t use it to mean “broken” (already damaged); it means “able to break.”
Synonyms
fragile (More common and often implies needing careful handling.)
|
delicate (Often suggests thinness or fine structure, not just breakability.)
Antonyms
unbreakable (Not able to be broken.)
|
durable (Made to last and resist damage.)
Collocations
breakable glass
|breakable items
|breakable objects
|breakable ornament
|breakable dishes
|breakable plastics
|highly breakable
|easily breakable
|breakable material
|breakable container
Themes
daily_life
|materials
|shopping
Examples
- Please wrap the breakable items separately.
- The toy looks sturdy, but the wings are actually quite breakable.
- Keep breakable glassware on the top shelf.
Learner examples
- This cup is breakable.
- Be careful with breakable things.
adjective
B2
property
2
able to be violated or not kept
A breakable rule or promise is one that people can choose not to follow.
Usage pattern:
a breakable [rule/promise/agreement]
Common mistake:
In this meaning, “breakable” is about rules or promises, not physical objects.
Synonyms
violable (More formal; commonly used with rights, rules, or agreements.)
|
breachable (More legal/business; often used with contracts and obligations.)
Antonyms
unbreakable (Guaranteed not to be broken (often figurative: an unbreakable bond/promise).)
|
binding (Must be followed; cannot be ignored without consequences.)
Collocations
breakable rule
|breakable promise
|breakable agreement
|breakable contract
|breakable law
|breakable code
|breakable guideline
Themes
law
|ethics
|relationships
|work
Examples
- A promise is breakable, but trust is harder to repair afterward.
- The policy is breakable in practice because nobody enforces it.
- They wrote the agreement in a way that made it easy and breakable.
Learner examples
- That rule is breakable.
- He made a breakable promise.
adjective
B2
property
3
able to be surpassed (record)
A breakable record is one that someone can beat.
Usage pattern:
a breakable [record]
Common mistake:
This meaning is about “breaking” a record (beating it), not damaging it.
Synonyms
beatable (More informal and very common in sports contexts.)
|
surpassable (Neutral; focuses on being able to exceed something.)
Antonyms
unbeatable (So strong or high that it cannot be defeated or exceeded.)
|
unsurpassable (Cannot be exceeded; very high or extreme.)
Collocations
breakable record
|easily breakable record
|breakable milestone
|breakable mark
Themes
sports
|competition
|news
Examples
- Analysts think the record is breakable with the right conditions.
- She set a breakable record, but it still stood for ten years.
- The coach called it a breakable mark and pushed the team to aim higher.
Learner examples
- This record is breakable.
- He wants to beat a breakable record.
Grammar
Dictionary form
breakable
IPA
GB/bɹˈeɪkəbəl/
US/bɹˈeɪkəbəl/
Syllables & stress
break - able (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (break)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: breakable
Word family
Core family
break
verb A2
Related words
breakage
noun
breaker
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unbreakable
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.