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

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 The rocks that break off the walls are carried outside in carts, washed, and sifted through. Astrid Suárez, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 Just last week, a wheel came loose and smashed through a car, and earlier this year the door from a 737 Max aircraft broke off mid-flight. Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 Eventually, Alma will break off their engagement after discovering that Daniel, the book’s titular fetishist, has been having an affair with another Asian American woman. The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Schiffman, 65, popped the question to Kotb in 2019, but the pair broke off their engagement in 2022 after eight years together. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Their relationship seems practically nonexistent, coming off as an awkward way to introduce a player who quickly breaks off on his own journey. Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 Many of those had limbs, fingers, and even heads broken off due to 2,000-plus years of wear and tear. Grace Cote, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 As of early Tuesday morning, the Anchor Marina dock structure, which had broken off its moorings and later crashed into Jersey Island, was still not secure. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024 But occasionally, some of the vortex can break off or move south, funneling freezing temperatures to the southern U.S. and into Europe and Asia. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break off.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of break off was in the 14th century

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 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

break off

verb
: to stop suddenly

More from Merriam-Webster on break off

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