branch off
phrasal verb
branched off; branching off; branches off
: to separate from something and move in a different direction
The stream branched off to the left.
—often + fromStreets branch off from both sides of the highway.
Examples of branch off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ctenophores are thought to be the first lineage that branched off from the common ancestor of all other animals.
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Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Sasha finished five side-by-side squares before branching off them to other areas to reduce the time spent waiting for the paint to dry.
—Jody Garlock, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2024
But instead of climbing to the roof of Arizona, the gentle 2.5-mile Aspen Nature Loop quickly branches off to the west, dipping in and out of lavishly colored forest and crossing open glades with panoramic views.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2024
After the Harlem River branches off around one side of Randall’s Island, a smaller tidal stream, the Bronx Kill, continues along the borough’s southern border.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for branch off 
Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Sasha finished five side-by-side squares before branching off them to other areas to reduce the time spent waiting for the paint to dry.
—Jody Garlock, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2024
But instead of climbing to the roof of Arizona, the gentle 2.5-mile Aspen Nature Loop quickly branches off to the west, dipping in and out of lavishly colored forest and crossing open glades with panoramic views.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2024
After the Harlem River branches off around one side of Randall’s Island, a smaller tidal stream, the Bronx Kill, continues along the borough’s southern border.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for branch off
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'branch off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Branch off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/branch%20off. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
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