broke down crying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broke down crying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a moment when someone becomes overwhelmed with emotion and starts to cry, often in response to a distressing situation. Example: "After hearing the news of her friend's accident, she broke down crying in the middle of the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then he broke down crying.

The New York Times

He broke down crying, he recalled.

The New York Times

Then she just broke down crying.

The Guardian - Film

"One lady broke down crying," Ralph said.

The Guardian

"And at one point, I broke down crying.

The New York Times - Sports

But three days into it, I broke down crying.

The New York Times - Magazine

But when they left I broke down, crying".

The Guardian - Sport

Knausgaard says he broke down crying when he heard about what Breivik had done.

The Guardian - Books

When I finally won the match I was so exhausted and happy, I broke down crying.

The Guardian - Sport

Then, to her surprise, she broke down crying, and the show disintegrated.

The New York Times - Arts

She discovered the plans from a friend, and broke down crying when the council confirmed them.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the emotional impact on the reader. This phrase evokes empathy, so use it judiciously to avoid melodramatic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "broke down crying" repeatedly in a short span, as it can diminish its impact. Instead, vary your descriptions of emotional responses with alternatives like "became tearful" or "started sobbing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broke down crying" functions as a verb phrase describing an action, specifically, the act of suddenly and intensely crying due to overwhelming emotion. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broke down crying" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone experiencing a sudden and intense emotional release through tears. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various reputable sources, particularly in news and media. This phrase conveys deep emotion, often in response to overwhelming circumstances. While acceptable in most contexts, varying your descriptions of emotional responses can prevent overuse. Alternatives include "burst into tears" or "collapsed in tears".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burst into tears

Emphasizes a sudden, intense onset of crying.

collapsed in tears

Highlights the physical and emotional weakness leading to crying.

dissolved into tears

Suggests a gradual surrender to crying, losing control.

wept uncontrollably

Focuses on the lack of control over the act of crying.

started sobbing

Describes the act of crying with audible gasps for air.

cried her eyes out

Implies crying for a long time or very intensely.

shed tears

A more formal way of saying someone cried.

became tearful

Suggests a state of being on the verge of crying.

lost it

An informal way of saying someone lost emotional control.

gave way to tears

Suggests a yielding or submission to the urge to cry.

FAQs

How can I use "broke down crying" in a sentence?

You can use "broke down crying" to describe a moment when someone is overwhelmed with emotion and begins to cry, such as "After hearing the news, she "broke down crying"."

What can I say instead of "broke down crying"?

You can use alternatives like "burst into tears", "collapsed in tears", or "dissolved into tears" depending on the context.

Is "broke down crying" formal or informal?

"Broke down crying" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for most contexts. However, more formal alternatives exist if a higher level of formality is required.

What's the difference between "broke down crying" and "started crying"?

"Broke down crying" implies a more intense and sudden emotional release than "started crying", suggesting a stronger emotional impact.