Ask Difference

Snap vs. Break — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 14, 2024
Snap refers to the quick, sharp action or sound of something breaking or closing, emphasizing speed and suddenness, while break indicates a separation into parts through force, highlighting damage or discontinuity.
Snap vs. Break — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Snap and Break

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Key Differences

Snap often implies a rapid action or a sudden sound, like a twig snapping underfoot, emphasizing the swiftness and often the sharpness of the action. It is associated with both physical movements, such as snapping one's fingers, and the sound produced by quick, forceful actions. On the other hand, break involves the process or result of splitting or becoming fractured, which can occur slowly or quickly, and is often used to describe damage or failure, such as a vase breaking when it hits the floor.
When something snaps, it usually does so with a quick, sharp sound that is instantly recognizable. This can happen under tension or pressure, like a rope snapping when it's pulled too tight. In contrast, when something breaks, it might not always produce a significant sound, focusing more on the act of separation and the resulting state of being broken, such as a heart breaking from sadness.
Snap can also describe a sudden emotional outburst or change in behavior, illustrating a quick shift from one state to another, akin to the swift action implied by its physical meaning. Whereas, break in an emotional or psychological context refers to a more profound disruption or collapse, such as a person breaking under stress, indicating a more severe and potentially lasting impact.
The term snap is often used in a less severe context than break. For example, snapping a pencil in half might suggest a deliberate, controlled action, while breaking a pencil could imply accidental or more destructive force. This distinction highlights how snap often conveys a sense of intention or abruptness, whereas break might suggest a broader range of causes and consequences.
In photography, to "snap" a picture suggests a quick, spontaneous action, capturing a moment with speed and ease. Conversely, there is no equivalent use of "break" in this context, illustrating how "snap" can convey immediacy and ease, attributes not commonly associated with "break."
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Compare with Definitions

Snap

A quick, sharp break or movement.
He could snap the pencil with a simple twist of his fingers.

Break

To cause something to separate into pieces.
The dish fell and broke on the floor.

Snap

Instantaneous decision or action.
She made a snap decision to leave early.

Break

Emotional or physical collapse.
He was close to a break after the long journey.

Snap

Making a rapid, sharp sound.
The whip snapped loudly in the air.

Break

Overcome or surpass a limit.
The marathon runner aimed to break the world record.

Snap

Quickly taking a photograph.
He loves to snap pictures of his dog at the park.

Break

A sudden or dramatic revelation.
The news channel reported a break in the case.

Snap

Sudden emotional or mental change.
She snapped out of her daydream when called upon.

Break

Interruption or cessation.
They took a break after two hours of driving.

Snap

(of an animal) make a sudden audible bite
A dog was snapping at his heels

Break

Separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain
The rope broke with a loud snap
Windows in the street were broken by the blast

Snap

Suddenly lose one's self-control
She claims she snapped after years of violence

Break

Interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course)
The new government broke the pattern of growth
His concentration was broken by a sound

Snap

Take a snapshot of
Photographers were snapping away at her
He planned to spend the time snapping rare wildlife

Break

Fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement)
The council says it will prosecute traders who break the law
A legally binding contract which can only be broken by mutual consent

Snap

Put (the ball) into play by a quick backward movement
Time will not be resumed until the ball is snapped on the next play

Break

Crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of
The idea was to better the prisoners, not to break them

Snap

A sudden, sharp cracking sound or movement
She closed her purse with a snap

Break

(of the weather) change suddenly, especially after a fine spell
The weather broke and thunder rumbled through a leaden sky

Snap

A hurried, irritable tone or manner
‘I'm still waiting,’ he said with a snap

Break

(of news or a scandal) suddenly become public
Since the news broke I've received thousands of wonderful letters

Snap

A snapshot
Holiday snaps

Break

(chiefly of an attacking player or team, or of a military force) make a rush or dash in a particular direction
Mitchell won possession and broke quickly, allowing Hughes to score

Snap

A card game in which cards from two piles are turned over simultaneously and players call ‘snap’ as quickly as possible when two similar cards are exposed.

Break

An interruption of continuity or uniformity
The magazine has been published without a break since 1950

Snap

A sudden brief spell of cold or otherwise distinctive weather
A cold snap

Break

A pause in work or during an activity or event
I need a break from mental activity
A coffee break
Those returning to work after a career break

Snap

Food, especially food taken to work to be eaten during a break.

Break

A gap or opening
The track bends left through a break in the hedge
He stopped to wait for a break in the traffic

Snap

An easy task
A control panel that makes operation a snap

Break

An instance of breaking something, or the point where something is broken
He was stretchered off with a break to the leg

Snap

A quick backward movement of the ball from the ground that begins a play.

Break

A rush or dash in a particular direction, especially by an attacking player or team
Norwich scored on a rare break with 11 minutes left

Snap

A small fastener on clothing, engaged by pressing its two halves together; a press stud
A black cloth jacket with a lot of snaps and attachments

Break

An opportunity or chance, especially one leading to professional success
He got his break as an entertainer on a TV music hall show

Snap

Done or taken on the spur of the moment, unexpectedly, or without notice
He could call a snap election
A snap decision

Break

A consecutive series of successful shots, scoring a specified number of points
A break of 83 put him in front for the first time

Snap

To make a brisk sharp cracking sound
"Logs snapped in the grate" (James Fox).

Break

A bud or shoot sprouting from a stem.

Snap

To break suddenly with a brisk, sharp, cracking sound.

Break

Former term for breaking cart

Snap

To give way abruptly under pressure or tension
With so many people crowding onto the platform, its supports snapped.

Break

Another term for brake

Snap

To suffer a physical or mental breakdown, especially while under stress
Feared that the troops would snap from fatigue.

Break

To cause to separate into pieces suddenly or violently; smash.

Snap

To bring the jaws briskly together, often with a clicking sound; bite.

Break

To divide into pieces, as by bending or cutting
Break crackers for a baby.

Snap

To take up something suddenly and eagerly; snatch or grasp
Snap at a chance to go to China.

Break

To separate into components or parts
Broke the work into discrete tasks.

Snap

To speak abruptly or sharply
Snapped at the child.

Break

To snap off or detach
Broke a twig from the tree.

Snap

To move swiftly and smartly
Snap to attention.

Break

To cause to undergo a fracture of (a bone, for example)
The impact of the fall broke his leg.

Snap

To flash or appear to flash light; sparkle
Eyes that snapped with anger.

Break

To experience a fracture in (a bone, for example)
I broke my wrist when skateboarding.

Snap

To open, close, or fit together with a click
The lock snapped shut. The jacket snaps in front.

Break

To crack without separating into pieces
Broke the mirror.

Snap

To snatch at with the teeth or mouth; bite
The turtle snapped the lettuce from my hand.

Break

To destroy the completeness of (a group of related items)
Broke the set of books by giving some away.

Snap

To pull apart or break with a snapping sound.

Break

To exchange for smaller monetary units
Break a dollar.

Snap

To utter abruptly or sharply
The sergeant snapped out a command.

Break

To vary or disrupt the uniformity or continuity of
A plain that was broken by low hills.
Caught the ball without breaking stride.

Snap

To cause to emit a snapping sound
Snap a whip.

Break

(Electricity) To render (a circuit) inoperative by disruption; open.

Snap

To close or latch with a snapping sound
Snapped the purse shut.

Break

To open (a shotgun or similar firearm) at the breech, as for loading or cleaning.

Snap

To cause to move suddenly
"His head was snapped back by a sudden scream from the bed" (James Michener).

Break

To force or make a way through; puncture or penetrate
The blade barely broke the skin.

Snap

To take (a photograph).

Break

To part or pierce the surface of
A dolphin breaking water.

Snap

To photograph
Snapped the winner on the podium.

Break

To produce (a sweat) copiously on the skin, as from exercise.

Snap

(Football) To pass (the ball) from the ground back between the legs to begin a down; hike.

Break

To force one's way out of; escape from
Break jail.

Snap

A sudden sharp cracking sound or the action producing such a sound.

Break

To make or bring about by cutting or forcing
Break a trail through the woods.

Snap

A sudden breaking.

Break

To find an opening or flaw in
They couldn't break my alibi.

Snap

A clasp, catch, or other fastening device that operates with a snapping sound.

Break

To find the solution or key to; uncover the basic elements and arrangement of
Break a code.
Break a spy ring.

Snap

A sudden attempt to bite, snatch, or grasp.

Break

To make known, as news
Break a story.

Snap

The sound produced by rapid movement of a finger from the thumb tip to the base of the thumb.

Break

To surpass or outdo
Broke the league's home-run record.

Snap

The act of producing this sound.

Break

(Sports) To win a game on (an opponent's service), as in tennis.

Snap

The sudden release of something held under pressure or tension.

Break

To lessen the force or effect of
Break a fall.

Snap

A thin, crisp, usually circular cookie
A ginger snap.

Break

To render useless or inoperative
We accidentally broke the radio.

Snap

Capacity to make a snapping sound; elasticity
This waistband has lost its snap.

Break

To weaken or destroy, as in spirit or health; overwhelm with adversity
"For a hero loves the world till it breaks him" (William Butler Yeats).

Snap

(Informal) Briskness, liveliness, or energy.

Break

To cause the ruin or failure of (an enterprise, for example)
Indiscretion broke both marriage and career.

Snap

A brief spell of brisk, cold weather.

Break

To reduce in rank; demote.

Snap

Something accomplished without effort.

Break

To cause to be without money or to go into bankruptcy.

Snap

A quick breaking or cracking sound or the action of producing such a sound.

Break

To fail to fulfill; cancel
Break an engagement.

Snap

A sudden break.

Break

To fail to conform to; violate
Break the speed limit.

Snap

An attempt to seize, bite, attack, or grab.

Break

(Law) To cause (a will) to be invalidated because of inconsistency with state inheritance laws or as a result of other legal insufficiency.

Snap

The act of snapping the fingers; making a sound by pressing a finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing to strike the hand.

Break

To give up (a habit).

Snap

A fastening device that makes a snapping sound when used.

Break

To cause to give up a habit
They managed to break themselves of smoking.

Snap

(informal) A photograph; a snapshot.
We took a few snaps of the old church before moving on.

Break

To train to obey; tame
The horse was difficult to break.

Snap

The sudden release of something held under pressure or tension.

Break

To become separated into pieces or fragments.

Snap

A thin circular cookie or similar baked good.
A ginger snap

Break

To become cracked or split.

Snap

A brief, sudden period of a certain weather; used primarily in the phrase cold snap.

Break

To become fractured
His arm broke from the fall.

Snap

A very short period of time (figuratively, the time taken to snap one's fingers), or a task that can be accomplished in such a period.
It'll be a snap to get that finished.
I can fix most vacuum cleaners in a snap.

Break

To become unusable or inoperative
The television broke.

Snap

A snap bean such as Phaseolus vulgaris.

Break

To give way; collapse
The scaffolding broke during the storm.

Snap

(American football) A backward pass or handoff of a football from its position on the ground that puts the ball in play; a hike.

Break

To burst
The blister broke.

Snap

(colloquial) A rivet: a scrapbooking embellishment.

Break

To intrude
They broke in upon our conversation.

Snap

(fishing) A small device resembling a safety pin, used to attach the bait or lure to the line.

Break

To filter in or penetrate
Sunlight broke into the room.

Snap

A small meal, a snack; lunch.

Break

To scatter or disperse; part
The clouds broke after the storm.

Snap

(uncountable) A card game, primarily for children, in which players cry "snap" to claim pairs of matching cards as they are turned up.

Break

(Games) To make the opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.

Snap

(obsolete) A greedy fellow.

Break

(Sports) To separate from a clinch in boxing.

Snap

That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap.

Break

(Sports) To win a game on the opponent's service, as in tennis
Broke twice in the first set.

Snap

Briskness; vigour; energy; decision

Break

To move away or escape suddenly
Broke from his grip and ran off.

Snap

Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained. used primarily in the phrase soft snap.

Break

To come forth or begin from a state of latency; come into being or emerge
A storm was breaking over Miami. Crocuses broke from the soil.

Snap

(slang) Something that is easy or effortless.

Break

To emerge above the surface of water.

Snap

A snapper, or snap beetle.

Break

To become known or noticed
The big story broke on Friday.

Snap

Jounce (the fourth derivative of the position vector with respect to time), followed by crackle and pop

Break

To change direction or move suddenly
The quarterback broke to the left to avoid a tackler.

Snap

A quick offhand shot with a firearm; a snap shot.

Break

(Baseball) To curve near or over the plate
The pitch broke away from the batter.

Snap

(colloquial) Something of no value.
Not worth a snap

Break

To change suddenly from one tone quality or musical register to another
His voice broke into a falsetto.

Snap

(social media) A visual message sent through the Snapchat application.

Break

(Linguistics) To undergo breaking.

Snap

(Linux) A package provided for the application sandboxing system snapd developed by Canonical.

Break

To change to a gait different from the one set. Used of a horse.

Snap

(uncountable) A crisp or pithy quality; epigrammatic point or force.

Break

To interrupt or cease an activity
We'll break for coffee at ten.

Snap

A tool used by riveters.

Break

To discontinue an association, an agreement, or a relationship
The partners broke over a financial matter. One hates to break with an old friend.

Snap

A tool used by glass-moulders.

Break

To diminish or discontinue abruptly
The fever is breaking.

Snap

A brief theatrical engagement.

Break

To diminish in or lose physical or spiritual strength; weaken or succumb
Their good cheer broke after repeated setbacks.

Snap

A cheat or sharper.

Break

To decrease sharply in value or quantity
Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs.

Snap

A newsflash.

Break

To come to an end
The cold spell broke yesterday.

Snap

To fracture or break apart suddenly.
He snapped his stick in anger.
If you bend it too much, it will snap.

Break

To collapse or crash into surf or spray
Waves that were breaking along the shore.

Snap

(intransitive) To give forth or produce a sharp cracking noise; to crack.
Blazing firewood snaps.

Break

(Informal) To take place or happen; proceed
Things have been breaking well for them.

Snap

(intransitive) To attempt to seize or bite with the teeth, beak, etc.
A dog snaps at a passenger. A fish snaps at the bait.

Break

To engage in breaking; break dance.

Snap

(intransitive) To attempt to seize with eagerness.
She snapped at the chance to appear on television.

Break

The act or an occurrence of breaking.

Snap

(intransitive) To speak abruptly or sharply.
He snapped at me for the slightest mistake.

Break

The result of breaking, as a crack, separation, or opening
A break in the clouds.

Snap

(intransitive) To give way abruptly and loudly.

Break

The beginning or emergence of something
The break of day.

Snap

(intransitive) To suffer a mental breakdown, usually while under tension.
She should take a break before she snaps.

Break

A sudden movement; a dash
The dog made a break toward the open field.

Snap

(intransitive) To flash or appear to flash as with light.

Break

An escape
A prison break.

Snap

(intransitive) To fit or fasten together with a snapping sound.

Break

An interruption or a disruption in continuity or regularity
Television programming without commercial breaks.

Snap

To jump to a fixed position relative to another element.
The floating toolbar will snap to the edge of the screen when dragged towards it.

Break

A pause or interval, as from work
A coffee break.

Snap

(transitive) To snatch with or as if with the teeth.

Break

A sudden or marked change
A break in the weather.

Snap

(transitive) To pull apart with a snapping sound; to pop loose.

Break

A violation
A security break.

Snap

(transitive) To say abruptly or sharply.

Break

An often sudden piece of luck, especially good luck
Finally got the big break in life.

Snap

To speak to abruptly or sharply; to treat snappishly; usually with up.

Break

An allowance or indulgence; accommodating treatment
The boss gave me a break because I'd been sick.

Snap

(transitive) To cause something to emit a snapping sound, especially by closing it rapidly.
To snap a fastener
To snap a whip

Break

A favorable price or reduction
A tax break for charitable contributions.

Snap

(transitive) To close something using a snap as a fastener.

Break

A severing of ties
Made a break with the past.
A break between the two families.

Snap

(transitive) A video of a person snapping their fingers.Alternative snapping techniqueTo snap one's fingers: to make a snapping sound, often by pressing the thumb and an opposing finger of the same hand together and suddenly releasing the grip so that the finger hits against the palm; alternatively, by bringing the index finger quickly down onto the middle finger and thumb.

Break

(Informal) A faux pas.

Snap

(transitive) To cause to move suddenly and smartly.

Break

A sudden decline in prices.

Snap

(transitive) To take a photograph; to release a camera's shutter (which may make a snapping sound).
He snapped a picture of me with my mouth open and my eyes closed.

Break

A caesura.

Snap

To send a visual message through the Snapchat application.

Break

The space between two paragraphs.

Snap

To put (a football) in play by a backward pass or handoff from its position on the ground; to hike (a football).
He can snap the ball to a back twenty yards behind him.

Break

A series of three dots ( ... ) used to indicate an omission in a text.

Snap

To misfire.
The gun snapped.

Break

The place where a word is or should be divided at the end of a line.

Snap

To catch out sharply (a batsman who has just snicked a bowled ball).

Break

(Electricity) Interruption of a flow of current.

Snap

The cry used in a game of snap when winning a hand.

Break

(Geology) A marked change in topography such as a fault or deep valley.

Snap

"I've got one the same!", "Me too!"
Snap! We've both got pink buckets and spades.

Break

(Nautical) The point of discontinuity between two levels on the deck of a ship.

Snap

(British) Ritual utterance of agreement (after the cry in the card game snap).

Break

The point at which one register or tonal quality changes to another.

Snap

(North America) Used in place of expletive to express surprise, usually in response to a negative statement or news; often used facetiously.
I just ran over your phone with my car. —Oh, snap!

Break

The change itself.

Snap

Ritual utterance used after something is said by two people at exactly the same time.
—Wasn't that John? —Wasn't that John? —Snap!

Break

An improvised instrumental solo played in jazz and other popular music while the other musicians stop or play softly.

Snap

Done, made, performed, etc., quickly and unexpectedly, or without deliberation.
A snap judgment or decision
A snap political convention

Break

A change in a horse's gait to one different from that set by the rider.

Snap

To break at once; to break short, as substances that are brittle.
Breaks the doors open, snaps the locks.

Break

(Sports) The swerving of a ball from a straight path of flight, as in baseball or cricket.

Snap

To strike, to hit, or to shut, with a sharp sound.

Break

(Sports) The beginning of a race.

Snap

To bite or seize suddenly, especially with the teeth.
He, by playing too often at the mouth of death, has been snapped by it at last.

Break

A fast break.

Snap

To break upon suddenly with sharp, angry words; to treat snappishly; - usually with up.

Break

The separation after a clinch in boxing.

Snap

To crack; to cause to make a sharp, cracking noise; as, to snap a whip.
MacMorian snapped his fingers repeatedly.

Break

(Games) The opening shot that scatters the grouped balls in billiards or pool.

Snap

To project with a snap.

Break

(Games) A run or unbroken series of successful shots, as in billiards or croquet.

Snap

To catch out sharply (a batsman who has just snicked a bowled ball).

Break

Sports & Games Failure to score a strike or a spare in a given bowling frame.

Snap

To break short, or at once; to part asunder suddenly; as, a mast snaps; a needle snaps.
But this weapon will snap short, unfaithful to the hand that employs it.

Break

(Sports) A service break.

Snap

To give forth, or produce, a sharp, cracking noise; to crack; as, blazing firewood snaps.

Break

Variant of brake6.

Snap

To make an effort to bite; to aim to seize with the teeth; to catch eagerly (at anything); - often with at; as, a dog snapsat a passenger; a fish snaps at the bait.

Break

Break dancing.

Snap

To utter sharp, harsh, angry words; - often with at; as, to snap at a child.

Break

To separate into two or more pieces, to fracture or crack, by a process that cannot easily be reversed for reassembly.
If the vase falls to the floor, it might break.
In order to tend to the accident victim, he will break the window of the car.

Snap

To miss fire; as, the gun snapped.

Break

To crack or fracture (bone) under a physical strain.
His ribs broke under the weight of the rocks piled on his chest.
She broke her neck.
He slipped on the ice and broke his leg.

Snap

Of the eyes, to emit sudden, brief sparkles like those of a snapping fire, as sometimes in anger.

Break

(transitive) To divide (something, often money) into smaller units.
Can you break a hundred-dollar bill for me?
The wholesaler broke the container loads into palettes and boxes for local retailers.

Snap

A sudden breaking or rupture of any substance.

Break

(transitive) To cause (a person or animal) to lose spirit or will; to crush the spirits of.
Her child's death broke Angela.
Interrogators have used many forms of torture to break prisoners of war.
The interrogator hoped to break her to get her testimony against her accomplices.

Snap

A sudden, eager bite; a sudden seizing, or effort to seize, as with the teeth.

Break

To turn an animal into a beast of burden.
You have to break an elephant before you can use it as an animal of burden.

Snap

A sudden, sharp motion or blow, as with the finger sprung from the thumb, or the thumb from the finger.

Break

(intransitive) To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief.
My heart is breaking.

Snap

A sharp, abrupt sound, as that made by the crack of a whip; as, the snap of the trigger of a gun.

Break

(transitive) To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate.
I've got to break this habit I have of biting my nails.
To break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey
I had won four games in a row, but now you've broken my streak of luck.

Snap

A greedy fellow.

Break

To end the run of (a play).

Snap

That which is, or may be, snapped up; something bitten off, seized, or obtained by a single quick movement; hence, a bite, morsel, or fragment; a scrap.
He's a nimble fellow,And alike skilled in every liberal science,As having certain snaps of all.

Break

(transitive) To ruin financially.
The recession broke some small businesses.

Snap

A sudden severe interval or spell; - applied to the weather; as, a cold snap.

Break

To fail in business; to go broke, to become bankrupt.

Snap

A small catch or fastening held or closed by means of a spring, or one which closes with a snapping sound, as the catch of a bracelet, necklace, clasp of a book, etc.

Break

Of prices on the stock exchange: to fall suddenly.

Snap

A snap beetle.

Break

(transitive) To violate; to fail to adhere to.
When you go to Vancouver, promise me you won't break the law.
He broke his vows by cheating on his wife.
Break one's word
Time travel would break the laws of physics.

Snap

A thin, crisp cake, usually small, and flavored with ginger; - used chiefly in the plural.

Break

To go down, in terms of temperature, indicating that the most dangerous part of the illness has passed.
Susan's fever broke at about 3 AM, and the doctor said the worst was over.

Snap

Briskness; vigor; energy; decision.

Break

To end.
The forecast says the hot weather will break by midweek.

Snap

Any circumstance out of which money may be made or an advantage gained.

Break

To begin or end.
We ran to find shelter before the storm broke.
Around midday the storm broke, and the afternoon was calm and sunny.

Snap

Any task, labor, set of circumstances, or the like, that yields satisfactory results or gives pleasure with little trouble or effort, as an easy course of study, a job where work is light, a bargain, etc.

Break

To arrive.
Morning has broken.
The day broke crisp and clear.

Snap

A snap shot with a firearm.

Break

To render (a game) unchallenging by altering its rules or exploiting loopholes or weaknesses in them in a way that gives a player an unfair advantage.
Changing the rules to let white have three extra queens would break chess.
I broke the RPG by training every member of my party to cast fireballs as well as use swords.

Snap

A snapshot.

Break

To stop, or to cause to stop, functioning properly or altogether.
On the hottest day of the year the refrigerator broke.
Did you two break the trolley by racing with it?

Snap

Something of no value; as, not worth a snap.

Break

To cause (some feature of a program or piece of software) to stop functioning properly; to cause a regression.
Adding 64-bit support broke backward compatibility with earlier versions.

Snap

The action of snapping the ball back, from the center usu. to the quarterback, which commences the play (down), and, if the clock had stopped, restarts the timer clock; a snap back.

Break

(transitive) To cause (a barrier) to no longer bar.
Break a seal

Snap

Done, performed, made, executed, carried through, or the like, quickly and without deliberation; as, a snap judgment or decision; a snap political convention.

Break

(specifically) To cause the shell of (an egg) to crack, so that the inside (yolk) is accessible.

Snap

The act of catching an object with the hands;
Mays made the catch with his back to the plate
He made a grab for the ball before it landed
Martin's snatch at the bridle failed and the horse raced away
The infielder's snap and throw was a single motion

Break

(specifically) To open (a safe) without using the correct key, combination, or the like.

Snap

A spell of cold weather;
A cold snap in the middle of May

Break

(transitive) To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce.
The cavalry were not able to break the British squares.

Snap

Tender green beans without strings that easily snap into sections

Break

To collapse into surf, after arriving in shallow water.

Snap

A crisp round cookie flavored with ginger

Break

(intransitive) To burst forth; to make its way; to come into view.

Snap

The noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand;
Servants appeared at the snap of his fingers

Break

(intransitive) To interrupt or cease one's work or occupation temporarily; to go on break.
Let's break for lunch.

Snap

A sudden sharp noise;
The crack of a whip
He heard the cracking of the ice
He can hear the snap of a twig

Break

(transitive) To interrupt (a fall) by inserting something so that the falling object does not (immediately) hit something else beneath.
He survived the jump out the window because the bushes below broke his fall.

Snap

A sudden breaking

Break

To disclose or make known an item of news, a band, etc.
The newsman wanted to break a big story, something that would make him famous.
I don't know how to break this to you, but your cat is not coming back.
When news of their divorce broke, ...

Snap

The tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed;
The waistband had lost its snap

Break

To become audible suddenly.

Snap

An informal photograph; usually made with a small hand-held camera;
My snapshots haven't been developed yet
He tried to get unposed shots of his friends

Break

(transitive) To change a steady state abruptly.
His coughing broke the silence.
His turning on the lights broke the enchantment.
With the mood broken, what we had been doing seemed pretty silly.

Snap

A fastener used on clothing; fastens with a snapping sound;
Children can manage snaps better than buttons

Break

To (attempt to) disengage and flee to; to make a run for.

Snap

Any undertaking that is easy to do;
Marketing this product will be no picnic

Break

To suddenly become.
Things began breaking bad for him when his parents died.
The arrest was standard, when suddenly the suspect broke ugly.

Snap

The act of snapping the fingers; movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand;
He gave his fingers a snap

Break

To become deeper at puberty.

Snap

(American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back;
The quarterback fumbled the snap

Break

To alter in type due to emotion or strain: in men, generally to go up, in women, sometimes to go down; to crack.
His voice breaks when he gets emotional.

Snap

Utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone;
The sales clerky snapped a reply at the angry customer
The guard snarled at us

Break

(transitive) To surpass or do better than (a specific number); to do better than (a record), setting a new record.
He broke the men's 100-meter record.
I can't believe she broke 3 under par!
The policeman broke sixty on a residential street in his hurry to catch the thief.

Snap

Separate or cause to separate abruptly;
The rope snapped
Tear the paper

Break

:

Snap

Break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension;
The rope snapped

Break

To win a game (against one's opponent) as receiver.
He needs to break serve to win the match.

Snap

Move or strike with a noise;
He clicked on the light
His arm was snapped forward

Break

To make the first shot; to scatter the balls from the initial neat arrangement.
Is it your or my turn to break?

Snap

Snap close with a sound;
The lock snapped shut

Break

To remove one of the two men on (a point).

Snap

Make a sharp sound;
His fingers snapped

Break

To demote; to reduce the military rank of.

Snap

Move with a snapping sound;
Bullets snapped past us

Break

(transitive) To end (a connection); to disconnect.
The referee ordered the boxers to break the clinch.
The referee broke the boxers' clinch.
I couldn't hear a thing he was saying, so I broke the connection and called him back.

Snap

To grasp hastily or eagerly;
Before I could stop him the dog snatched the ham bone

Break

To demulsify.

Snap

Put in play with a snap;
Snap a football

Break

To counter-attack.

Snap

Cause to make a snapping sound;
Snap your fingers

Break

To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.

Snap

Lose control of one's emotions;
When she heard that she had not passed the exam, she lost it completely
When her baby died, she snapped

Break

(intransitive) To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.

Snap

Record on photographic film;
I photographed the scene of the accident
She snapped a picture of the President

Break

(transitive) To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of.
To break flax

Break

(transitive) To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.

Break

(intransitive) To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change gait.
To break into a run or gallop

Break

To fall out; to terminate friendship.

Break

To terminate the execution of a program before normal completion.

Break

To suspend the execution of a program during debugging so that the state of the program can be investigated.

Break

(computing) To cause, or allow the occurrence of, a line break.
Zero-width non-breaking space

Break

To B-boy; to breakdance.

Break

An instance of breaking something into two or more pieces.
The femur has a clean break and so should heal easily.

Break

A physical space that opens up in something or between two things.
The sun came out in a break in the clouds.
He waited minutes for a break in the traffic to cross the highway.

Break

A rest or pause, usually from work.
Let’s take a five-minute break.

Break

A time for students to talk or play between lessons.

Break

A scheduled interval of days or weeks between periods of school instruction; a holiday.
Winter break, spring break

Break

A short holiday.
A weekend break on the Isle of Wight

Break

A temporary split with a romantic partner.
I think we need a break.

Break

An interval or intermission between two parts of a performance, for example a theatre show, broadcast, or sports game.

Break

A significant change in circumstance, attitude, perception, or focus of attention.
Big break
Lucky break, bad break

Break

(finance) A sudden fall in prices on the stock exchange.

Break

The beginning (of the morning).
At the break of day

Break

An act of escaping.
Make a break for it, for the door
It was a clean break.
Prison break

Break

The separation between lines, paragraphs or pages of a written text.

Break

(computing) A keystroke or other signal that causes a program to terminate or suspend execution.

Break

(programming) breakpoint

Break

A change, particularly the end of a spell of persistent good or bad weather.

Break

:

Break

(tennis) A game won by the receiving player(s).

Break

The first shot in a game of billiards.

Break

(snooker) The number of points scored by one player in one visit to the table.

Break

(soccer) The counter-attack.

Break

(golf) The curve imparted to the ball's motion on the green due to slope or grass texture.

Break

(surfing) A place where waves break (that is, where waves pitch or spill forward creating white water).
The final break in the Greenmount area is Kirra Point.

Break

(horse racing) The start of a horse race.

Break

(dated) A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.

Break

(equitation) A sharp bit or snaffle.

Break

(music) A short section of music, often between verses, in which some performers stop while others continue.
The fiddle break was amazing; it was a pity the singer came back in on the wrong note.

Break

(music) The point in the musical scale at which a woodwind instrument is designed to overblow, that is, to move from its lower to its upper register.
Crossing the break smoothly is one of the first lessons the young clarinettist needs to master.

Break

(music) The transition area between a singer's vocal registers; the passaggio.

Break

An area along a river that features steep banks, bluffs, or gorges (e.g., Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, US).

Break

An error.

Break

(music) A section of extended repetition of the percussion break to a song, created by a hip-hop DJ as rhythmic dance music.

Break

To strain apart; to sever by fracture; to divide with violence; as, to break a rope or chain; to break a seal; to break an axle; to break rocks or coal; to break a lock.

Break

To lay open as by breaking; to divide; as, to break a package of goods.

Break

To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.
Katharine, break thy mind to me.

Break

To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise.
Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray.

Break

To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or terminate; as, to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's journey.
Go, release them, Ariel;My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore.

Break

To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; as, to break a set.

Break

To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce; as, the cavalry were not able to break the British squares.

Break

To shatter to pieces; to reduce to fragments.
The victim broke in pieces the musical instruments with which he had solaced the hours of captivity.

Break

To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination; as, to break a five dollar bill.

Break

To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to break flax.

Break

To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind.
An old man, broken with the storms of state.

Break

To diminish the force of; to lessen the shock of, as a fall or blow.
I'll rather leap down first, and break your fall.

Break

To impart, as news or information; to broach; - with to, and often with a modified word implying some reserve; as, to break the news gently to the widow; to break a purpose cautiously to a friend.

Break

To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to discipline; as, to break a horse to the harness or saddle.
Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute?

Break

To destroy the financial credit of; to make bankrupt; to ruin.
With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks,Attracts all fees, and little lawyers breaks.

Break

To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to dismiss.
I see a great officer broken.

Break

To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder.

Break

To open spontaneously, or by pressure from within, as a bubble, a tumor, a seed vessel, a bag.
Else the bottle break, and the wine runneth out.

Break

To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to dawn.
The day begins to break, and night is fled.
And from the turf a fountain broke,and gurgled at our feet.

Break

To burst forth violently, as a storm.
The clouds are still above; and, while I speak,A second deluge o'er our head may break.

Break

To open up; to be scattered; to be dissipated; as, the clouds are breaking.
At length the darkness begins to break.

Break

To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or strength.
See how the dean begins to break;Poor gentleman! he droops apace.

Break

To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; as, my heart is breaking.

Break

To fall in business; to become bankrupt.
He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to poverty.

Break

To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; as, to break into a run or gallop.

Break

To fail in musical quality; as, a singer's voice breaks when it is strained beyond its compass and a tone or note is not completed, but degenerates into an unmusical sound instead. Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty.

Break

To fall out; to terminate friendship.
To break upon the score of danger or expense is to be mean and narrow-spirited.
Fear me not, man; I will not break away.
He had broken down almost at the outset.
This radiant from the circling crowd he broke.

Break

An opening made by fracture or disruption.

Break

An interruption of continuity; change of direction; as, a break in a wall; a break in the deck of a ship.

Break

An interruption; a pause; as, a break in friendship; a break in the conversation.

Break

An interruption in continuity in writing or printing, as where there is an omission, an unfilled line, etc.
All modern trash isSet forth with numerous breaks and dashes.

Break

The first appearing, as of light in the morning; the dawn; as, the break of day; the break of dawn.

Break

A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.

Break

See Commutator.

Break

Some abrupt occurrence that interrupts;
The telephone is an annoying interruption
There was a break in the action when a player was hurt

Break

An unexpected piece of good luck;
He finally got his big break

Break

(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other;
They built it right over a geological fault

Break

A personal or social separation (as between opposing factions);
They hoped to avoid a break in relations

Break

A pause from doing something (as work);
We took a 10-minute break
He took time out to recuperate

Break

The act of breaking something;
The breakage was unavoidable

Break

A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

Break

Breaking of hard tissue such as bone;
It was a nasty fracture
The break seems to have been caused by a fall

Break

The occurrence of breaking;
The break in the dam threatened the valley

Break

The opening shot that scatters the balls in billiards or pool

Break

(tennis) a score consisting of winning a game when your opponent was serving;
He was up two breaks in the second set

Break

An act of delaying or interrupting the continuity;
It was presented without commercial breaks

Break

A sudden dash;
He made a break for the open door

Break

Any frame in which a bowler fails to make a strike or spare;
The break in the eighth frame cost him the match

Break

An escape from jail;
The breakout was carefully planned

Break

Terminate;
She interrupted her pregnancy
Break a lucky streak
Break the cycle of poverty

Break

Become separated into pieces or fragments;
The figurine broke
The freshly baked loaf fell apart

Break

Destroy the integrity of; usually by force; cause to separate into pieces or fragments;
He broke the glass plate
She broke the match

Break

Render inoperable or ineffective;
You broke the alarm clock when you took it apart!

Break

Ruin completely;
He busted my radio!

Break

Act in disregard of laws and rules;
Offend all laws of humanity
Violate the basic laws or human civilization
Break a law

Break

Move away or escape suddenly;
The horses broke from the stable
Three inmates broke jail
Nobody can break out--this prison is high security

Break

Scatter or part;
The clouds broke after the heavy downpour

Break

Force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up;
Break into tears
Erupt in anger

Break

Prevent completion;
Stop the project
Break off the negociations

Break

Enter someone's property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act;
Someone broke in while I was on vacation
They broke into my car and stole my radio!

Break

Make submissive, obedient, or useful;
The horse was tough to break
I broke in the new intern

Break

Fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns;
This sentence violates the rules of syntax

Break

Surpass in excellence;
She bettered her own record
Break a record

Break

Make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret;
The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold
The actress won't reveal how old she is
Bring out the truth
He broke the news to her

Break

Come into being;
Light broke over the horizon
Voices broke in the air

Break

Stop operating or functioning;
The engine finally went
The car died on the road
The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town
The coffee maker broke
The engine failed on the way to town
Her eyesight went after the accident

Break

Interrupt a continued activity;
She had broken with the traditional patterns

Break

Make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing;
The ranks broke

Break

Curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves;
The surf broke

Break

Lessen in force or effect;
Soften a shock
Break a fall

Break

Be broken in;
If the new teacher won't break, we'll add some stress

Break

Come to an end;
The heat wave finally broke yesterday

Break

Vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity;
The flat plain was broken by tall mesas

Break

Cause to give up a habit;
She finally broke herself of smoking cigarettes

Break

Give up;
Break cigarette smoking

Break

Come forth or begin from a state of latency;
The first winter storm broke over New York

Break

Happen or take place;
Things have been breaking pretty well for us in the past few months

Break

Cause the failure or ruin of;
His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage
This play will either make or break the playwright

Break

Invalidate by judicial action;
The will was broken

Break

Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways;
The business partners broke over a tax question
The couple separated after 25 years of marriage
My friend and I split up

Break

Assign to a lower position; reduce in rank;
She was demoted because she always speaks up
He was broken down to Sargeant

Break

Reduce to bankruptcy;
My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!
The slump in the financial markets smashed him

Break

Change directions suddenly

Break

Emerge from the surface of a body of water;
The whales broke

Break

Break down, literally or metaphorically;
The wall collapsed
The business collapsed
The dam broke
The roof collapsed
The wall gave in
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice

Break

Do a break dance;
Kids were break-dancing at the street corner

Break

Exchange for smaller units of money;
I had to break a $100 bill just to buy the candy

Break

Destroy the completeness of a set of related items;
The book dealer would not break the set

Break

Make the opening shot that scatters the balls

Break

Separate from a clinch, in boxing;
The referee broke the boxers

Break

Go to pieces;
The lawn mower finally broke
The gears wore out
The old chair finally fell apart completely

Break

Break a piece from a whole;
Break a branch from a tree

Break

Become punctured or penetrated;
The skin broke

Break

Pierce or penetrate;
The blade broke her skin

Break

Be released or become known; of news;
News of her death broke in the morning

Break

Cease an action temporarily;
We pause for station identification
Let's break for lunch

Break

Interrupt the flow of current in;
Break a circuit

Break

Undergo breaking;
The simple vowels broke in many Germanic languages

Break

Find a flaw in;
Break an alibi
Break down a proof

Break

Find the solution or key to;
Break the code

Break

Change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another;
Her voice broke to a whisper when she started to talk about her children

Break

Happen;
Report the news as it develops
These political movements recrudesce from time to time

Break

Become fractured; break or crack on the surface only;
The glass cracked when it was heated

Break

Of the male voice in puberty;
His voice is breaking--he should no longer sing in the choir

Break

Fall sharply;
Stock prices broke

Break

Fracture a bone of;
I broke my foot while playing hockey

Break

Diminish or discontinue abruptly;
The patient's fever broke last night

Break

Weaken or destroy in spirit or body;
His resistance was broken
A man broken by the terrible experience of near-death

Common Curiosities

Can something break without being touched?

Yes, objects can break due to internal stress, environmental conditions, or material failure, not just from being physically touched.

Can both snap and break occur without physical force?

Yes, both can refer to emotional or psychological states, with snap implying a sudden change and break indicating a more profound impact.

How do snap and break differ in sound?

Snap typically refers to a sharp, clear sound, while break does not necessarily involve a specific sound and can occur silently.

What kind of actions can be described as snapping?

Actions that are quick and result in a sudden change or sound, such as snapping one's fingers or a branch snapping under pressure.

What does it mean to snap something?

To snap something means to cause it to break suddenly and sharply, often accompanied by a distinct sound.

Is snapping always intentional?

Not necessarily, but it often implies a degree of intention or control, unlike breaking, which can be accidental or deliberate.

What's the difference between snapping a photo and breaking news?

Snapping a photo refers to quickly taking a picture, focusing on speed and ease, while breaking news refers to the initial revelation of significant or sudden news.

Is it possible to snap back from a break?

In a metaphorical sense, yes, indicating recovery or return to a previous state, though snap back more commonly refers to quick returns to a condition rather than after a break.

Can break be used positively?

Yes, in contexts like breaking a record or taking a break, it can have a positive connotation.

What does it mean when a person is described as breaking?

It suggests a significant emotional, mental, or physical collapse or failure, indicating a profound impact on their state.

Is snapping faster than breaking?

Generally, yes, as snap implies immediacy and speed, while breaking can occur over varying durations.

Do snap and break have different emotional impacts?

Yes, snap often implies a less severe or temporary condition, while break suggests a deeper, more lasting emotional effect.

How do the implications of snap and break differ in relationships?

Snapping might refer to a sudden argument or change in mood, while breaking up signifies the end or significant trouble in a relationship.

Can the same object snap and break?

Yes, an object can initially snap (partially break with a sharp sound) and then fully break apart.

How do snap decisions differ from breaking points?

Snap decisions are made quickly and often impulsively, while breaking points are moments of ultimate stress or failure after which significant changes occur.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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