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
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
The Founding Fathers weren’t scarfing burgers down on the regular while crafting breakaway documents in Philly in the late 1700s, but by the start of the 20th century, hamburgers were quickly ascending as a dominant food in the United States.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024
Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2023
In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Nirit Cohen, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
When Musawi broke away from Amal to form Hezbollah, Nasrallah followed him as a co-founder.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for breakaway 
Noun
The suit accuses the agents of sitting in on meetings and gathering intel for their breakaway venture while still employed at CAA.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024
The Founding Fathers weren’t scarfing burgers down on the regular while crafting breakaway documents in Philly in the late 1700s, but by the start of the 20th century, hamburgers were quickly ascending as a dominant food in the United States.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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
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
Candidates who embrace the Purple Cow mindset break away from the standard resume-and-cover-letter formula and create something so compelling that hiring managers can’t help but take notice.
—Nirit Cohen, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
When Musawi broke away from Amal to form Hezbollah, Nasrallah followed him as a co-founder.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for breakaway
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breakaway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near breakaway
Cite this Entry
“Breakaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakaway. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
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