Cool MatePenetrate vs They broke through our defences
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Penetrate
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
They broke through our defences
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Penetrate
| Penetrate | They broke through our defences | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɛnətreɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈpɛnəˌtreɪt// | 🇬🇧 //breɪk θruː//🇺🇸 //breɪk θru// |
| Meaning | To go into or through something. | They succeeded in getting past our protection. |
| Example | The knife will easily penetrate the flesh of the fruit. | The attackers broke through our defences during the night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | penetrate deep, penetrate the market, penetrate the body, penetrate the surface, penetrate the mind | break through a barrier, break through resistance, break through limitations |
| Antonyms | retreat, withdraw | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'permeate' - 'penetrate' is more about going in rather than spreading., Using in incorrect contexts, such as emotional states that don't involve depth., Omitting the object that is being penetrated. | Confused with 'break down', which means to stop functioning., Using 'break through' as a noun instead of a verb. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in contexts related to physical objects, ideas, or emotions; avoid in overly formal writing. | Used in contexts of overcoming obstacles or difficulties. Appropriate in both military and metaphorical situations. Can imply success after struggle. |
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Frequently asked questions: Penetrate vs They broke through our defences
What's the difference between Penetrate and They broke through our defences?
Penetrate: To go into or through something. They broke through our defences: They succeeded in getting past our protection.
Which is more common: Penetrate and They broke through our defences?
Penetrate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Penetrate: The knife will easily penetrate the flesh of the fruit. They broke through our defences: The attackers broke through our defences during the night.
Can I use Penetrate and They broke through our defences interchangeably?
Not always. Penetrate and They broke through our defences are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.