1
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to end
to come to an end
talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break off
The girls set their step goals for the day’s session before breaking off into groups.
—
Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
Boeing has been under scrutiny after two of its 737 Max aircraft crashed in 2018 and 2019 and part of the body of another 737 Max aircraft broke off after take-off in January.
—Sally Percy, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
One broke off and the others were severely damaged.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
The claim: Mexico broke off relations with Canada A Dec. 8 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) claims one North American nation has cut diplomatic ties with another.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break off 
Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
Boeing has been under scrutiny after two of its 737 Max aircraft crashed in 2018 and 2019 and part of the body of another 737 Max aircraft broke off after take-off in January.
—Sally Percy, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
One broke off and the others were severely damaged.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
The claim: Mexico broke off relations with Canada A Dec. 8 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) claims one North American nation has cut diplomatic ties with another.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
-
But a Chinese bus attendant who tried to stop the attacker later died of her wounds.—
Chris Lau,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Identity fraud attacks rose by 73% between 2021 and 2023, and nothing seems to stop them.—
Rob Heidenreich,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
With the first 12-team playoff ending, is the debate on how to settle the CFB national championship finally over?—
Stewart Mandel,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
-
But Trump’s initial executive orders have gone far beyond that — including efforts to keep asylum-seekers in Mexico and end automatic citizenship.—
Amelia Thomson-Deveaux,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
One of my favorite coffee shops, Cafe De Leche, which had the most peaceful sunny patio — perfect for reading and catching up with a friend — ceased to exist.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Production has ceased on Season 2 of the Big Talk Studios series about an 18th-century highway robber, putting a cast and crew of hundreds out of work with nothing to show for their efforts.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Thus, as a reminder, don’t wait until the TCJA expires to do your estate planning!—
Darren T. Case,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
-
On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service extended its red flag warning — which had been scheduled to expire at 10 p.m. — until 8 p.m. Thursday due to an anticipated boost in wind coupled with persistent low humidity.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
By the end of the day, several states had grouped together to file a lawsuit against the administration to halt the funding freeze, including California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Delaware.—
Michael Wilner,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2025
-
In a Napolitan News Service survey shared with Secrets, voters signaled support for the president’s moves to halt foreign aid, secure the border, and drain the swamp.—
Paul Bedard,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The show is slated to conclude its run on Sunday, Aug. 17.—
Stephen L. Betts,
Rolling Stone,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Many elements of the image — such as the human hand — appear to be random, the office found, concluding that the user does not have sufficient control to claim authorship.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
President Donald Trump is not quitting his campaign to convince the leaders of Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians whose homes have been destroyed in Gaza.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Does that mean everyone should quit drinking immediately?—
Jamie Ducharme,
TIME,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Just cut off the bottom, put them in a microwave-safe dish and microwave it for 10-15 seconds.—
Cody Godwin,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Some experts suggest that once a sibling cuts off contact, as the OP's brother appears to have done, reconciliation becomes increasingly difficult.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near break off
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share