break ranks

phrase

variants or less commonly break rank

: to differ in opinion or action from one's peers

—often used with with

broke ranks with the party's leadership

Examples of break ranks in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then came the media firestorm and an assistant coach who broke ranks to condemn the ousting. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Their 164 runs scored since the All-Star break rank in the bottom third of the majors. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

And the Soufan Center warned in January that hard-liners within those services could break ranks and join the Islamic State group or other jihadist organizations. — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Murkowski is Republican, but she is known to break ranks with her party. — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for break ranks

• sandbanks
• blanks
• cranks
• flanks
• francs
• franks
• hanks
• manx
• planks
• pranks
• shanks
• tanks