break off
verb
broke off; broken off; breaking off; breaks off
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
1
: discontinue
break off diplomatic relations
2
: to remove by or as if by breaking
broke off a chunk of bread
Synonyms
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
So when Delta’s Bombardier CRJ900 crash-landed Monday, tipped over and skidded down the runway, its fuel-laden right wing broke off, leaving behind a massive inferno.
—
Alexandra Skores, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
As a survival mechanism, the women break off into a gals-only chat, which assumes the safe-space atmosphere of a women’s bathroom.
—Kassondra Cloos, Outside Online, 12 Feb. 2025
The jet stream typically acts as a barrier to keep the polar vortex contained near the Arctic, but at times, some of the vortex can break off or move south, bringing unusually cold weather into the U.S., Europe and Asia.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
On my own block, a massive limb of a carob tree broke off and I was given the opportunity to examine it up close.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break off 
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Alexandra Skores, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
As a survival mechanism, the women break off into a gals-only chat, which assumes the safe-space atmosphere of a women’s bathroom.
—Kassondra Cloos, Outside Online, 12 Feb. 2025
The jet stream typically acts as a barrier to keep the polar vortex contained near the Arctic, but at times, some of the vortex can break off or move south, bringing unusually cold weather into the U.S., Europe and Asia.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
On my own block, a massive limb of a carob tree broke off and I was given the opportunity to examine it up close.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for break off
Dictionary Entries Near break off
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20off. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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