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
Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
The Chinese government considers Taiwan a breakaway province, and has not ruled out using military force to prevent it from declaring formal independence.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023
But their breakaway characteristics are wonderfully gradual, so the Boxster is easily controllable and steerable at the limit.
—Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2023
The 2008 conflict centered around South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway provinces which are officially part of Georgia but have separate governments unrecognized by most countries and are propped up by Russia.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 16 Aug. 2023
World & Nation Georgia Shoots Down Russian Warplane Over Abkhazia : Soviet aftermath: Accounts differ as to what the jet fighter was doing over the breakaway province.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2023
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah said some TTP members have been known to disobey their top leadership to carry out attacks, as have breakaway factions of the group.
—Anwarullah Khan and Riaz Khan, Anchorage Daily News, 31 July 2023
Fans of a certain age will recall that Mario Lemieux made his debut on Causeway Street ice also on Oct. 11 (1984) and scored on his first shift, first shot, buzzing by Ray Bourque at the right point on a breakaway and finishing off against Pete Peeters.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
On teams like these, the other seven team members act as domestiques, or helpers, who work to protect that rider from the wind and other dangers, ferry them supplies, assist them through punishing mountain stages and chase down threatening breakaways.
—Kevin Draper, New York Times, 29 June 2023
Marc Berman, ajc, 1 Apr. 2023
Russia is viewed as an enemy by many Georgians, after Moscow backed separatists in the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the 1990s.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2023
Jerome Kersey followed with a breakaway dunk with 1:17 left and the game was tied at 97-97.
—oregonlive, 28 Apr. 2020
His breakaway power dunks were a highlight of a season that was short on those.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 19 Mar. 2020
Johnson opened the second frame with a steal and a breakaway dunk, electrifying a drowsy crowd that had witnessed only six combined points through the first eight minutes.
—Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati.com, 8 Mar. 2020
Not giving the Chargers a breather, Fern Creek star point guard Jaden Rogers got a steal and a chance for a breakaway dunk.
—David J. Kim, The Courier-Journal, 29 Feb. 2020
Watchmen’s fantastic seventh episode indulges a breakaway gimmick with its own Garden of Eden imagery.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 11 May 2020
Jackie Caradonio, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2023
Then again, without Carter as the nominee, the neoconservatives who broke away from the Democrats might have stayed in the fold.
—Ben Jacobs, The New Republic, 21 Sep. 2023
Imperial 14, Palo Verde Valley 0: Imperial (4-1) broke away with a pair of second half TDs.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023
Three talented teams just flawed enough to keep them from breaking away will stagger around the final turn of this season with three very distinct outcomes in play:
Win the division.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
The experience led Welteroth to break away from the modern health care system and hire a Black midwife to guide her through a painful pregnancy and, later, a successful at-home delivery.
—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 12 Sep. 2023
The Beavers are 11-1 in Reser Stadium over the past two seasons, the only loss coming by a field goal to USC.
LIVE UPDATES
THIRD QUARTER
Deshaun Fenwick breaks away on a 20-yard rush.
—Ndaschel, oregonlive, 9 Sep. 2023
By Friday, industry chatter was growing about the odds of a sizable Hollywood player breaking away from the AMPTP to strike a separate deal with the WGA as the work stoppage goes on.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
Hudson Card tossed a short pass to receiver Deion Burks, who broke away from several defenders for an 84-yard touchdown.
—Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Sep. 2023
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Noun
For a running back who prides himself on his breakaway speed, the change of pace is necessary as the Trojans try to establish a consistent running game.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
The Chinese government considers Taiwan a breakaway province, and has not ruled out using military force to prevent it from declaring formal independence.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023
But their breakaway characteristics are wonderfully gradual, so the Boxster is easily controllable and steerable at the limit.
—Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2023
The 2008 conflict centered around South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway provinces which are officially part of Georgia but have separate governments unrecognized by most countries and are propped up by Russia.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 16 Aug. 2023
World & Nation Georgia Shoots Down Russian Warplane Over Abkhazia : Soviet aftermath: Accounts differ as to what the jet fighter was doing over the breakaway province.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2023
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah said some TTP members have been known to disobey their top leadership to carry out attacks, as have breakaway factions of the group.
—Anwarullah Khan and Riaz Khan, Anchorage Daily News, 31 July 2023
Fans of a certain age will recall that Mario Lemieux made his debut on Causeway Street ice also on Oct. 11 (1984) and scored on his first shift, first shot, buzzing by Ray Bourque at the right point on a breakaway and finishing off against Pete Peeters.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023
On teams like these, the other seven team members act as domestiques, or helpers, who work to protect that rider from the wind and other dangers, ferry them supplies, assist them through punishing mountain stages and chase down threatening breakaways.
—Kevin Draper, New York Times, 29 June 2023
Adjective
The Alcaraz hype train has been so breakaway NBA stars Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler showed up to watch the Spanish star from the teal seats.
—Marc Berman, ajc, 1 Apr. 2023
Russia is viewed as an enemy by many Georgians, after Moscow backed separatists in the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the 1990s.
—Reuters, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2023
Jerome Kersey followed with a breakaway dunk with 1:17 left and the game was tied at 97-97.
—oregonlive, 28 Apr. 2020
His breakaway power dunks were a highlight of a season that was short on those.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 19 Mar. 2020
Johnson opened the second frame with a steal and a breakaway dunk, electrifying a drowsy crowd that had witnessed only six combined points through the first eight minutes.
—Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati.com, 8 Mar. 2020
Not giving the Chargers a breather, Fern Creek star point guard Jaden Rogers got a steal and a chance for a breakaway dunk.
—David J. Kim, The Courier-Journal, 29 Feb. 2020
Watchmen’s fantastic seventh episode indulges a breakaway gimmick with its own Garden of Eden imagery.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 11 May 2020
Verb
Suddenly, the zebra broke away, bucking its hind legs in one last Hail Mary attempt at escape.
—Jackie Caradonio, Travel + Leisure, 21 Sep. 2023
Then again, without Carter as the nominee, the neoconservatives who broke away from the Democrats might have stayed in the fold.
—Ben Jacobs, The New Republic, 21 Sep. 2023
Imperial 14, Palo Verde Valley 0: Imperial (4-1) broke away with a pair of second half TDs.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023
Three talented teams just flawed enough to keep them from breaking away will stagger around the final turn of this season with three very distinct outcomes in play:
Win the division.
—Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
The experience led Welteroth to break away from the modern health care system and hire a Black midwife to guide her through a painful pregnancy and, later, a successful at-home delivery.
—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 12 Sep. 2023
The Beavers are 11-1 in Reser Stadium over the past two seasons, the only loss coming by a field goal to USC.
LIVE UPDATES
THIRD QUARTER
Deshaun Fenwick breaks away on a 20-yard rush.
—Ndaschel, oregonlive, 9 Sep. 2023
By Friday, industry chatter was growing about the odds of a sizable Hollywood player breaking away from the AMPTP to strike a separate deal with the WGA as the work stoppage goes on.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
Hudson Card tossed a short pass to receiver Deion Burks, who broke away from several defenders for an 84-yard touchdown.
—Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Sep. 2023
See More
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.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near breakaway
Cite this Entry
“Breakaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakaway. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on breakaway
Nglish: Translation of breakaway for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of breakaway for Arabic Speakers
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