1

breakaway

noun break·away \ ˈbrā-kə-ˌwā \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: breakaway in a Sentence

Definition of breakaway

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

Recent Examples of breakaway from the Web

Brazil, Croatia, and Sweden have also found the net after one of these breakaways, meaning that a focus on quickly turning defense into attack has helped pave the way for four of the eight teams in the quarterfinals.

— joshua robinson, WSJ, "Possession Soccer Is Now a Losing Strategy at the World Cup," 5 July 2018
Multiple games have been influenced by muffed calls, such as a missed slashing call when Boston’s Brad Marchand was on a late-game breakaway in the second round.

— kevin allen, USA TODAY, "Bad NHL officiating strikes again as Lightning score after phantom high-sticking call," 13 May 2018
That was a defensible position in the wake of the 2006 Tour, when Floyd Landis rode an incredible 80-mile solo breakaway to win back the yellow jersey—only, of course, to be busted for doping a few days later.

— marc peruzzi, Outside Online, "Stop Boycotting Pro Cycling," 6 July 2018
But had Gonzalo Higuaín finished off that breakaway at the Maracanã four years ago, the pressure and conversation surrounding Messi and the Albiceleste would’ve been completely different.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Quarterfinal Stage a Narrative Tipping Point for World Cup Contenders," 5 July 2018
Gereffa tacks on In the 4-on-4 portion of the second half, undrafted forward Zack Solow led a 2-on-1 breakaway with undrafted defenseman Zach Gereffa.

— mike persak, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Panthers' Logan Hutsko flashes skill in development camp scrimmage," 29 June 2018
Kehler stopped a breakaway in the third by Patrick Bajkov, and that was the extent of the third period pushback.

— dylan bumbarger, OregonLive.com, "Game thread: Portland Winterhawks at Everett Silvertips, Game 2," 7 Apr. 2018
South Korea countered by playing Son into a breakaway with an empty net, and the Tottenham star finished the game–and Germany's stay in Russia–with another goal.

— jenna west, SI.com, "Watch: South Korean Commentators Shocked by World Cup Win Over Germany," 27 June 2018
These riders stick with the leader at all times, sheltering him from the wind and chasing down breakaways from rivals.

— alex hutchinson, Outside Online, "You’re Faster with Friends, Even Uphill," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breakaway.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of breakaway

1881

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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2

breakaway

adjective

Definition of breakaway

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

See breakaway defined for English-language learners

Examples of breakaway in a Sentence

A breakaway faction formed a new party.

Recent Examples of breakaway from the Web

The group was formed in 2011 by a group of breakaway Democratic state senators who, after a leadership struggle in their party, aligned with Republicans.

— katie honan, WSJ, "Former New York City Comptroller to Take On State Senator for Queens Seat," 13 July 2018
In Somalia, meanwhile, the Emiratis are building ports in the breakaway regions of Puntland and Somaliland.

— The Economist, "Insecurity complexGulf states fear being encircled by Iran and abandoned by America," 21 June 2018
But for the 2016 games, the Republic of Abkhazia, a breakaway region in Georgia, rolled out lavish hospitality.

— New York Times, "In Alternative World Cup for Would-be Nations, Karpatalya Beats North Cyprus," 9 June 2018
Sri Lanka's High Commission in London wrote to CONIFA complaining about the participation of Tamil Eelam, the team that lost 6-0 to Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia.

— NBC News, "CONIFA World Football Cup is soccer showdown for not-quite countries," 9 June 2018
The breakaway Turkish Cypriot government that's financially backed by Turkey has so far doled out 316 million euros ($366 million) in compensation.

— menelaos hadjicostis, Fox News, "In split Cyprus, a homecoming digs up old conflicts," 28 June 2018
The breakaway Turkish Cypriot government that’s financially backed by Turkey has so far doled out 316 million euros ($366 million) in compensation.

— Washington Post, "In split Cyprus, a homecoming digs up old conflicts," 27 June 2018
The Phoenix defense was able to force turnovers and convert them into breakaway opportunities against Tulsa last weekend and that could be the recipe for success on the road as well.

— atreya verma, azcentral, "Phoenix Rising FC seek continued success on the road," 22 June 2018
Mullet led a breakaway sect of an Amish community made up of 18 families in the village of Bergholz, about 100 miles southeast of Cleveland.

— robert higgs, cleveland.com, "Amish bishop Sam Mullet's move to overturn sentence for beard and hair-cutting attacks rejected," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breakaway.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of breakaway

1927

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

break away

verb

Definition of break 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

First Known Use of break away

1535

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

BREAKAWAY Defined for English Language Learners

breakaway

adjective

Definition of breakaway for English Language Learners

: having become separate from a larger group, country, etc. : having broken away

Learn More about breakaway

See words that rhyme with breakaway Nglish: Translation of breakaway for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of breakaway for Arabic speakers

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