BREAK EVEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does break even mean? 

• BREAK EVEN (verb)
  The verb BREAK EVEN has 2 senses:

1. make neither profit nor loss

2. attain a level at which there is neither gain nor loss, as in business, gambling, or a competitive sport

  Familiarity information: BREAK EVEN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BREAK EVEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they break even    ... he / she / it breaks even   
Past simple: broke even   
Past participle: broken even   
-ing form: breaking even   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make neither profit nor loss

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Antonym:

lose (fail to make money in a business; make a loss or fail to profit)

profit (make a profit; gain money or materially)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Attain a level at which there is neither gain nor loss, as in business, gambling, or a competitive sport

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "break even" is one way to...):

attain; hit; reach (reach a point in time, or a certain state or level)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective