break·away
ˈbrā-kə-ˌwā 
1
a
: one that breaks away
b
: a departure from or rejection of something (such as a group or tradition)
2
a
: a play (as in hockey) in which an offensive player breaks free of the defenders and rushes toward the goal
b
: 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
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
3
a
: of, relating to, or resulting from a breakaway
a breakaway goal
b
: allowing or having an ability to execute a breakaway
breakaway speed
broke away; broken away; breaking away; breaks away
1
: to detach oneself especially from a group : get away
2
: to depart from former or accustomed ways
3
: to pull away with a burst of speed
Examples of breakaway in a Sentence
Adjective
A breakaway faction formed a new party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
Tottenham Hotspur, one of the six Premier League clubs which in 2021 nearly joined a breakaway European Super League until supporter backlash killed the project, only narrowly escaped relegation.
—Ian King, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Yevgeny Kuklychev
ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Additionally, the park will have multiple sensory gardens for guests who want to break away to reset or relax.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for breakaway
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Noun
Meanwhile, the breakaway republic of Somaliland on the Horn of Africa provided Israel with an additional military position, one of the sources said, allowing Israeli aircraft a point to potentially stop on long-range flights to Iran.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
Tottenham Hotspur, one of the six Premier League clubs which in 2021 nearly joined a breakaway European Super League until supporter backlash killed the project, only narrowly escaped relegation.
—Ian King, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Adjective
Moscow has moved many of its vessels toward its Novorossiysk base, and satellite imagery indicates Russia is establishing another Black Sea base in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.
—Yevgeny Kuklychev
ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Verb
Just break away and watch as Ole Miss and Missouri fan clubs pop up all over the globe.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Additionally, the park will have multiple sensory gardens for guests who want to break away to reset or relax.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for breakaway
Cite this Entry
“Breakaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakaway. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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