break a record

USAGE SUMMARY

"break a record" is an acceptable expression in written English.
You can use it to talk about surpassing a previously set accomplishment. For example: "Tommy broke the 5K world record by 10 seconds!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's great to break a record.

The Guardian - Books

"I didn't know I would break a record of his," Green said.

The New York Times - Sports

"You want, anyway, to break a record that is not your own".

The New Yorker

Toyota's sales inched up 2.7percenttoto break a record set last year.

The New York Times

"I never imagined to break a record at my age," said Jacobs, 36.

The New York Times - Sports

If predictions are accurate for the city, snow totals could break a record set in 1922.

The Guardian

What Bonds will not do when he passes Ruth is break a record.

The New York Times - Sports

"To tie a record or break a record would never be my motivation," Armstrong said.

The New York Times - Sports

He also said it was irrelevant that he was trying to break a record held by an Israeli.

The New York Times

To break a record of that magnitude, which was set by a player like Jim Brown, was really special.

The New York Times

Also, if he can win here, and maybe break a record, it might be easier to race elsewhere.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "break a record" when you want to emphasize the act of surpassing a previously established achievement in any field, from sports to sales.

Common error

Avoid using "break a record" when referring to simply matching an existing record; the phrase implies surpassing the previous best.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break a record" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of surpassing a previously established best performance. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English, as showcased in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "break a record" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe surpassing a previously set achievement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely accepted in written English across various contexts, most notably in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, more formal synonyms might be preferred in academic or scientific writing. Remember, it's about surpassing an existing record, not just matching it. Consider alternatives like "beat a record" or "set a new record" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beat a record

A common and simple way to express surpassing a previous record, often used in sports.

set a new record

Focuses on the act of establishing a new benchmark, rather than surpassing an old one.

shatter a record

Implies a more significant and impressive surpassing of the previous record.

better a record

Indicates an improvement upon a previous record, implying a higher standard.

surpass a record

A more formal and straightforward way of saying "break a record".

eclipse a record

Suggests overshadowing the previous record, making it seem less significant.

exceed a record

Similar to 'surpass', but suggests going beyond the previous record by a considerable margin.

top a record

A more informal way to describe surpassing a previous record.

achieve a new milestone

Focuses on the accomplishment of reaching a significant point, rather than surpassing a specific record.

outdo a record

Focuses on exceeding a previous achievement, emphasizing competition.

FAQs

What does it mean to "break a record"?

To "break a record" means to surpass a previously established best performance or achievement in a particular field or activity. It implies setting a new, higher standard.

What can I say instead of "break a record"?

You can use alternatives like "beat a record", "set a new record", or "surpass a record" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "broken a record"?

No, the correct form is "broke a record" (past simple) or "has broken a record" (present perfect). "Broken a record" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "break a record" and "set a record"?

"Break a record" means to surpass an existing record, while "set a new record" means to establish a record where none existed before, or to establish a new high.