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
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
broke away; broken away; breaking away; breaks away
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
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2025
The highlight was a stop on Buffalo’s JJ Peterka, who was denied on a breakaway with 1:25 remaining.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Furthermore, Moscow’s various calls for respect of the UN Charter would have been taken more seriously had Russia itself not unilaterally recognized the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008, or annexed Crimea and instigated a war in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2023
Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Cook says that this was an intentional move, in order to break away from the typically rapid release schedule in K-pop, which can involve frequent comebacks for ‘rookie’ acts, often with new EPs or singles released every few months.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breakaway
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Noun
The press created a scoring opportunity for Consolidated sophomore forward Jolee Ingram, who found herself on a breakaway.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2025
The highlight was a stop on Buffalo’s JJ Peterka, who was denied on a breakaway with 1:25 remaining.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
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.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Furthermore, Moscow’s various calls for respect of the UN Charter would have been taken more seriously had Russia itself not unilaterally recognized the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008, or annexed Crimea and instigated a war in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2023
Verb
Beyond the technical specs and finishing, what stands out most is how confidently these watches break away from traditional high horology watch design.
—Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Cook says that this was an intentional move, in order to break away from the typically rapid release schedule in K-pop, which can involve frequent comebacks for ‘rookie’ acts, often with new EPs or singles released every few months.
—Sophie Williams, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breakaway
Cite this Entry
“Breakaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakaway. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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