breakaway

1 of 3

noun

break·​away ˈbrā-kə-ˌwā How to pronounce breakaway (audio)
1
a
: one that breaks away
b
: a departure from or rejection of something (such as a group or tradition)
2
a
: a play (as in hockey) in which an offensive player breaks free of the defenders and rushes toward the goal
b
: a sudden acceleration by one or more bicyclists pulling away from the pack in a race
3
: an object made to shatter or collapse under pressure or impact

breakaway

2 of 3

adjective

1
: favoring independence from an affiliation : seceding
a breakaway faction formed a new party
2
: made to break, shatter, or bend easily
breakaway road signs for highway safety
3
a
: of, relating to, or resulting from a breakaway
a breakaway goal
b
: allowing or having an ability to execute a breakaway
breakaway speed

break away

3 of 3

verb

broke away; broken away; breaking away; breaks away

intransitive verb

1
: to detach oneself especially from a group : get away
2
: to depart from former or accustomed ways
3
: to pull away with a burst of speed

Examples of breakaway in a Sentence

Adjective A breakaway faction formed a new party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Connor Brown scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway with 14:30 left in the first period. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2024 Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan reclaimed in full by force in September. Christian Edwards, CNN, 13 June 2024
Adjective
In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024 Meanwhile, Russia has signed a deal to house a permanent naval base in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, also on the Black Sea, its leader told local media Thursday. Daryna Mayer, NBC News, 6 Oct. 2023
Verb
Fatherhood pushed Gardner to break away from the stoicism and aggression encouraged during his military career and learn how to be deeply attentive to others and try to understand their weakness and fears. Elissa Strauss, CNN, 14 June 2024 Harris said the Black Educators Caucus, which was previously under the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, broke away from the union in 2019. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 10 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for breakaway 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breakaway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breakaway was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near breakaway

Cite this Entry

“Breakaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakaway. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.

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