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

State officials compared the project to Boise’s Flying Wye, where the I-184 Connector breaks off from I-84 west of downtown Boise. —Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026

Furthermore, the team’s study offered the first visual proof of the YORP effect, where sunlight makes asteroids spin faster until chunks of material break off, sometimes forming moons. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026

His future wife broke off their engagement in 1960. —Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

Last year, his boat got stuck in ice that broke off the nearby glacier. —ABC News, 3 Mar. 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