break formation
idiom
: to stop being or moving together in an organized group
The planes broke formation and took off in different directions.
Examples of break formation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With the pressure ramping up, the fight to get in each day’s breakaway will further intensify, especially with the green jersey race complicating break formation.
—
Sophie Kaufman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
At one point in the clip, the rodents start to slow down and break formation.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024
Once Allied bombers were attacked, P-51 pilots had permission to break formation and shoot down German fighters at will.
—David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2021
The group did not run toward the gunshots or break formation.
—Nicole Chavez, Ryan Young and Angela Barajas, CNN, 25 Oct. 2020
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Sophie Kaufman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
At one point in the clip, the rodents start to slow down and break formation.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 9 July 2024
Once Allied bombers were attacked, P-51 pilots had permission to break formation and shoot down German fighters at will.
—David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2021
The group did not run toward the gunshots or break formation.
—Nicole Chavez, Ryan Young and Angela Barajas, CNN, 25 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Break formation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20formation. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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