break off

verb

broke off; broken off; breaking off; breaks off

intransitive verb

1

: to stop abruptly

break off in the middle of a sentence

2

: to become detached

branches that broke off in the storm

3

: to end a relationship

broke off with his business partner

transitive verb

1

: discontinue

break off diplomatic relations

2

: to remove by or as if by breaking

broke off a chunk of bread

Synonyms of break off

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• quit
• cut off
• lay off
• knock off
• shut off
• cut out

Examples of break off in a Sentence

the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch

talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands

Recent Examples on the Web

With the tight ends The Chiefs’ tight ends broke off to work on a blocking drill at the start. — Pete Grathoff july 31, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Additionally, there were large branches broken off trees in the yard of a home. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 29 July 2026

Second-year running back Jarquez Hunter broke off a run for a long gain. — Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026

The plastic can break off and leave a mess behind, or it may be accidentally ingested by a pet or child, Gach warns. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for break off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

break off

verb

: to stop suddenly