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

Santa Cruz wharf breaks off as series of storms hits West Coast For the West Coast, the break in wet weather will be brief. —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

Start by breaking off pieces of the outer bread and dipping them in the cheesy middle. —Melissa Santos, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024

During Trump's first term, his administration implemented harsh sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry, leading Maduro to break off relations in 2019. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024

Throughout the years, vandals have occasionally broken off parts of the left hand, toes and a sphere that the figure originally held. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

break off

verb

: to stop suddenly