split up — end a relationship
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
When two people split up, they stop being a couple or end their romantic relationship.
Say it like a native
Textbook My partner and I terminated our romantic relationship.
Native We split up last year.
'Split up' is the everyday verb for a couple breaking up; the formal version is cold.
Pattern: split up (with someone)
In use
- After dating for three years, they decided to split up.relationships
- I think it's normal for some couples to split up if they have very different goals in life.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She split up her boyfriend.
✓ She split up with her boyfriend.
You split up WITH someone — don't drop 'with'.
Common collocations
split up + with— with him, last year, for good, over money
Don't confuse it
'Split up' can also mean to divide into smaller groups, not just ending relationships.
Related
- split up (divide into smaller groups) — Another meaning of 'split up' is 'divide into smaller groups'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.