break off

verb

broke off; broken off; breaking off; breaks off

intransitive verb

1

: to stop abruptly

break off in the middle of a sentence

2

: to become detached

branches that broke off in the storm

3

: to end a relationship

broke off with his business partner

transitive verb

1

: discontinue

break off diplomatic relations

2

: to remove by or as if by breaking

broke off a chunk of bread

Synonyms

• break
• break up
• can [slang]
• cease
• cut off
• cut out
• desist (from)
• discontinue
• drop
• end
• give over
• halt
• knock off
• lay off
• leave off
• pack (up or in)
• quit
• shut off
• stop

Examples of break off in a Sentence

the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch

talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands

Recent Examples on the Web

In a stunning Oval Office meeting, President Trump breaks off talks with the Ukrainian president. —ABC News, 2 Mar. 2025

The noise of the yelling broke off a piece of dead limb or bark, which rattled down through the tree above me and struck my shoulder. —Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025

For example, sometimes solar eruptions — blips of plasma that erupt from our star's surface — can break off and shoot into space. —Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 26 Feb. 2025

With two outs in the second inning, Scherzer broke off a looping curveball to the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt that looked to be below the zone and was called a ball by Ortiz. —Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for break off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

break off

verb

: to stop suddenly