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

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• quit
• cut off
• lay off
• knock off
• shut off
• cut out

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

That clot can eventually break off and travel through the bloodstream. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025

Microplastics, minuscule bits of plastic that break off of larger products, are smaller than a pencil eraser, measuring less than 5 millimeters. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 1 July 2025

The bucket then collapsed, leaving the worker dangling upside down from his harness as the crane arm partially broke off. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 28 June 2025

Some United Nations troops broke off from the convoy and crossed the frozen reservoir to the Marine base’s safety. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for break off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

break off

verb

: to stop suddenly