break off
verb
broke off; broken off; breaking off; breaks off
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
1
: discontinue
break off diplomatic relations
2
: to remove by or as if by breaking
broke off a chunk of bread
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
In that unlikely scenario, there would be a risk of debris breaking off the asteroid and hitting Earth.
—
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Police were called to the home twice to respond to reports of angry outbursts from Bushey, once after the knives were removed and once after the locks were changed, which reportedly led Bushey to break off a doorknob to enter the house.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
That meant that when the Orion capsule dipped into the atmosphere, gases built up in the heat shield’s interior, causing chunks of the material to break off and cracks to form.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
According to prosecutors, the female staff member attempted to break off contact with Moore two days before his firing and disclosed their relationship to the university.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break off
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Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Police were called to the home twice to respond to reports of angry outbursts from Bushey, once after the knives were removed and once after the locks were changed, which reportedly led Bushey to break off a doorknob to enter the house.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
That meant that when the Orion capsule dipped into the atmosphere, gases built up in the heat shield’s interior, causing chunks of the material to break off and cracks to form.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
According to prosecutors, the female staff member attempted to break off contact with Moore two days before his firing and disclosed their relationship to the university.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break off
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20off. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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