take a break

/ˌteɪk ə ˈbreɪk/
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To pause an activity for a short rest.

Examples

  • The children took a break from studying and went outside.
  • When do you usually take a break at work?
  • Let us take a break after this chapter.
  • I have been driving for hours; I need to take a break.
  • She took a break to stretch her legs.

Similar words

take a breather
pause
have a rest

Meanings

Pause to rest

daily life
neutral
To stop an activity briefly, usually to rest before continuing.

Examples

  • Let us take a break after this chapter.
  • She took a break to stretch her legs.
  • When do you usually take a break at work?
  • I have been driving for hours; I need to take a break.
  • The children took a break from studying and went outside.

Similar words

Etymology

Take combines with break, a pause in an activity, to describe deliberately stopping for a while.

FAQ

What does take a break mean?

It means stopping an activity for a short rest.

When is take a break used?

It is used during work, study, travel, or another activity that will usually continue.

How is take a break different from call it a day?

Take a break suggests a temporary pause. Call it a day means stopping the activity for now, often for the rest of the day.

How is take a break used in a sentence?

The verb changes with tense, as in “She took a break”.

Is take a break formal?

It is neutral and common in everyday and workplace speech.

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