Brake vs. Break How to Choose the Right Word

The words brake and break are homophones: They sound the same and are related but have different meanings. The word break has many centuries behind it and appears in all the old Germanic languages, the Oxford University Press (OUP) blog says. But brake, meaning a device to slow the motion of a wheel, has been around only a few hundred years, appearing first near the end of the 18th century. The OUP blog article also notes that brake came into English at various times in relation to tools that broke or crushed something. One such tool crushed plants such as hemp or flax. Another brake came from a word for a bridle, which put the brakes on a horse. It is a product of folk etymology, for the apparatus broke the motion, OUP says. How to Use Brake As a noun, brake nowadays most commonly refers to a device for slowing down or stopping the movement of a vehicle or machine. On a mode of transportation, its typically used in the plural form, as in, My brakes went out. The verb to brake means to slow down or stop with a brake. How to Use Break Break as a noun has many meanings, including a fracture, an interruption, a pause, a sudden move, an escape, and an opportunity. The irregular verb break also has many meanings. The most common ones include to split into pieces, to make unusable, to disrupt or get rid of, and to interrupt. It can be a transitive verb (taking an object), as in, She breaks different colors of glazed ceramic tiles to make her mosaics. It can be intransitive (no object), such as in, Cheap toys break easily. Examples Here are some examples that show their meanings and some idiomatic usages to help you remember them in context. Gus released the parking brake, threw the car into drive, and pulled away without once looking back.Her bumper sticker said, Caution: I brake for yard sales.Oh, give me a break, he said. I dont believe you.The climbers spent three days in their tents, waiting for a break in the weather.Even a good friend may break a promise.The workers are allowed two 15-minute breaks.People can do jail time for breaking and entering.These stiff new shoes hurt my feet. I need to break them in.The waves are breaking on the shore.The officer cut me a break and let me off with a warning.The basketball player has a really fast break on the court. How to Remember the Difference If you can remember that the word breakfast came from two words, meaning the meal that you eat to break your fast, you should be able to keep the meanings of the two words separate in your memory. Practice Exercises The mechanic replaced the _____ linings and pads on my van.People shouldnt _____ the law whenever they feel unjustly treated.Dillingers prison _____ is the stuff of legend—and movies.If you _____ something in this shop, you have to pay for it. Answers to Practice Exercises The mechanic replaced the  brake  linings and pads on my van.People shouldnt  break  the law whenever they feel unjustly treated.Dillingers prison  break is the stuff of legend—and movies.If you  break  something in this shop, you have to pay for it. Sources Liberman, Anatoly. Break and Brake. Oxford University Press blog, 16 June 2010.