Synonyms for break even

Grammar : Verb

Spell : breyk-ee-vuh n

Phonetic Transcription : ˈbreɪkˈi vən

Définition of break even

Origin : Old English efen "level," also "equal, like; calm, harmonious; quite, fully; namely," from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz (cf. Old Saxon eban, Old Frisian even "level, plain, smooth," Dutch even, Old High German eban, German eben, Old Norse jafn, Danish jævn, Gothic ibns).
Etymologists are uncertain whether the original sense was "level" or "alike." Used extensively in Old English compounds, with a sense of "fellow, co-" (e.g. efeneald "of the same age;" Middle English even-sucker "foster-brother"). Of numbers, from 1550s. Modern adverbial sense (introducing an extreme case of something more generally implied) seems to have arisen 16c. from use of the word to emphasize identity ("Who, me?" "Even you," etc.) Sense of "on an equal footing" is from 1630s. Rhyming reduplication phrase even steven is attested from 1866; even break first recorded 1911. Even-tempered from 1875.

verb be or become equal

Example sentences :

Don't forget I've warned you what'll happen if you try to break even with me.
Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance

All I want in this world is to break even with Wynn and Katz.
Extract from : « Owen Clancy's Happy Trail » by Burt L. Standish

It might break even the Mahon machines in this installation?
Extract from : « The Machine That Saved The World » by William Fitzgerald Jenkins

You will die, and by a death which will break even your spirit.
Extract from : « The Harlequin Opal, Vol. 2 (of 3) » by Fergus Hume

"I'll make a hedging bet and break even with you, Mr. Massingale," he said.
Extract from : « The City of Numbered Days » by Francis Lynde

But we'll break even on that when he works along th' boundary.
Extract from : « Hopalong Cassidy » by Clarence E. Mulford

I will break even with you both, said the third gentleman, leaning across.
Extract from : « The Girl Scouts Rally » by Katherine Keene Galt

You've done a lot uh mourning, now here's a chance to break even on me.
Extract from : « The Happy Family » by Bertha Muzzy Bower

Ay, have I; but it is possible to break even a friendship of twenty years.
Extract from : « The Red Rover » by James Fenimore Cooper

It's only fair your dad should break even for some of the whiskey he give the Lone Star.
Extract from : « Heart's Desire » by Emerson Hough

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019