breakaway

1 of 3

noun

break·​away ˈbrā-kə-ˌwā 

1

a

: one that breaks away

b

: a departure from or rejection of something (such as a group or tradition)

2

a

: a play (as in hockey) in which an offensive player breaks free of the defenders and rushes toward the goal

b

: a sudden acceleration by one or more bicyclists pulling away from the pack in a race

3

: an object made to shatter or collapse under pressure or impact

breakaway

2 of 3

adjective

1

: favoring independence from an affiliation : seceding

a breakaway faction formed a new party

2

: made to break, shatter, or bend easily

breakaway road signs for highway safety

3

a

: of, relating to, or resulting from a breakaway

a breakaway goal

b

: allowing or having an ability to execute a breakaway

breakaway speed

break away

3 of 3

verb

broke away; broken away; breaking away; breaks away

intransitive verb

1

: to detach oneself especially from a group : get away

2

: to depart from former or accustomed ways

3

: to pull away with a burst of speed

Examples of breakaway in a Sentence

Adjective

A breakaway faction formed a new party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The two-time major champion, who finished tied for 23rd at the Irish Open on Sunday, is one of the biggest stars in LIV Golf, the breakaway circuit that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week with more than $500 million in debt. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Ben Healy, 26, Ireland Over the past three seasons, Healy has established himself as the peloton’s great breakaway artist — taking victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia from long-distance solo attacks. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Moscow has moved many of its vessels toward its Novorossiysk base, and satellite imagery indicates Russia is establishing another Black Sea base in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia. — Yevgeny Kuklychev ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025

In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia. — Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024

Verb

Scottish nationalists believe support for independence is rising Scotland tried unsuccessfully to break away in 2014, with voters rejecting a referendum 55% to 45%. — Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

The group breaks away as soon as the traffic lights turn green. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for breakaway

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• cabaret