Definition of breakaway
1a : one that breaks awayb : a departure from or rejection of something (such as a group or tradition)
2a : a play (as in hockey) in which an offensive player breaks free of the defenders and rushes toward the goalb : 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
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of breakaway from the Web
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From dropping back and offering their leader a slipstream to catching and reeling in breakaway riders, none of their physical exertions are for personal gain.
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The British colonists were an island people; their native country had a breakaway, national church that was fully at home neither with the Catholics nor the Protestant denominations on the European mainland.
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Goal No. 7 and 8 (September 20, 2014 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps): Adi scored in the 66th and 69th minute, netting a goal on a 1v1 with the goalkeeper and scoring on a breakaway as the Timbers won 3-0.
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Meara was equally big in the 18th minute, stopping a breakaway by Picault.
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Maybe the one about a minute later when Rinne denied Chris Kunitz on a breakaway?
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Then Crosby, held without a shot for only the fifth time in the postseason in his career, tied it up for Pittsburgh on a breakaway.
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His mother, Eliziane, is a breakaway roper and a team roping header.
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After a Penn State turnover with 16 seconds remaining, Tewaaraton Award finalist Olivia Hompe got the ball on a breakaway well ahead of the Penn State defense, but Rainone snared the high shot with eight seconds to go.
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
breakaway
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
3a : of, relating to, or resulting from a breakaway a breakaway goalb : allowing or having an ability to execute a breakaway breakaway speed
Examples of breakaway in a Sentence
A breakaway faction formed a new party.
Recent Examples of breakaway from the Web
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An injury sidelined Rose in the spring game, but he also is supposed to possess breakaway speed and could pass King for the No. 2 job.
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Cats should be wearing a stretch or safety breakaway collar and an I.D. tag.
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The 6-foot-3 guard scooped up the ball near halfcourt and finished the sequence with a breakaway dunk.
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And with a breakaway pace, the fan racing Freeze seemed to have a good chance of winning the race on Friday night as the Braves hosted the New York Mets.
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Tift, a forward, scored the Lions’ first goal, converting on a breakaway three minutes into the second half.
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The breakaway dunk is the last highlight in the short video.)
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Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.
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Jacobs received a second-half penalty kick goal from Cassie Kowalski for a 5-0 lead, then cashed in a breakaway goal by Peyton Adams.
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
BREAKAWAY Defined for English Language Learners
breakaway
Definition of breakaway for English Language Learners
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: having become separate from a larger group, country, etc. : having broken away
Learn More about breakaway
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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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