it has broken down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has broken down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has stopped functioning or is no longer working properly. Example: "The car has broken down on the side of the road, and we need to call for assistance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Now this is the third time it has broken down," says Fred Bitte, Aqua Drill Tech's supervisor in Katine.

The Guardian

The American war has devasted the economy while at the same time it has broken down the political power that is necessary to restore it.

The New Yorker

It has broken down rules of the old secular order that now permit the wide public expression of religion, seen in the proliferation of women wearing head scarves, by the conservative masses who make up the prime minister's constituency.

The New York Times

There's still some fruit pulp stuck to it that has to ferment before it has broken down enough to be able to be washed off before the coffee beans are dried.

The New York Times

Small tented facilities are to be set up on a trial basis in areas where there has never been healthcare or it has broken down, with the aim of encouraging people who have symptoms such as fever – which could be malaria or Ebola – to come for basic care.

The Guardian

"We have a technology that can radically change outcomes, and the system to deliver it has broken down," said Elliot Vichinsky, director of the Northern California Thalassemia Center at Children's Hospital in Oakland, who says he regularly sees multiethnic parents with children affected by a kind of inherited anemia that can be fatal.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

(A worker later told me that it had broken down during a gala celebration the day before, forcing the local V.I.P.'s, he said, to put on big rubber boots and wade out through the water trough).

The New York Times - Magazine

He pointed to the most important and most worrying evidence that it had broken down: "The link between higher productivity and people's wages and salaries was severed — the income of the top 1 percent nearly quadrupled from 1979 to 2007, while the typical family's barely budged".

The New York Times

We then breathalyzed ourselves again to see how much alcohol it had broken down in our systems.

Vice

It is this system which has broken down, and unless you understand it, you will not be able to fix it.

The Economist

It's summer, the air conditioning has broken down, and Anita is pregnant.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it has broken down", ensure the context clearly identifies what "it" refers to. Avoid ambiguity by being specific about the subject.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "It". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has broken down" functions as a statement indicating that something is no longer working or has ceased to function properly. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it has broken down" is a commonly used phrase to describe something that is no longer functioning. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and sees frequent use across varied contexts, particularly in News & Media. The phrase can be replaced with alternatives such as "it malfunctioned" or "it stopped working" depending on the desired level of formality. While versatile, it's important to ensure that the referent of "it" is clear to avoid ambiguity. Ludwig's analysis highlights the phrase's role in conveying information about the state of an object or system.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it malfunctioned

Replaces "broken down" with a single word indicating a failure to function correctly.

it stopped working

Simplifies the phrase to a more basic and direct description of the cessation of function.

it is out of order

Indicates that something is temporarily not functioning and needs repair.

it failed

A more general term indicating a lack of success or proper functioning.

it ceased to function

A more formal way of saying that something has stopped working.

it gave out

Suggests that something has stopped working due to wear or strain.

it collapsed

Implies a sudden and complete failure or breakdown.

it is defective

Indicates that something has a fault or imperfection that prevents it from working properly.

it disintegrated

Suggests a breakdown into smaller parts or components.

it is non-operational

A formal way of saying that something is not currently in working condition.

FAQs

What does "it has broken down" mean?

The phrase "it has broken down" means that something has stopped functioning correctly or has failed to work as intended.

What can I say instead of "it has broken down"?

You can use alternatives like "it malfunctioned", "it stopped working", or "it is out of order" depending on the context.

Is "it has broken down" formal or informal?

"It has broken down" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. More formal alternatives exist, such as "it ceased to function."

How to use "it has broken down" in a sentence?

Example: "The old machine worked for years, but unfortunately, "it has broken down" and needs to be replaced."