Synonyms of break free

break free

phrase

as in escape

to get free from a dangerous or confining situation

The hostages managed to break free before anyone got hurt.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• escape
• flee
• fly
• run away
• get out
• run off
• break out (of)
• clear out
• leave
• avoid
• move
• lam
• go
• lose
• pull out
• walk out
• abscond
• exit
• evade
• sally (forth)
• take off
• shove (off)
• elude
• depart
• shun
• rescue
• quit
• free
• spring
• release
• loose
• elope
• decamp
• extricate
• bring off
• liberate
• loosen
• redeem
• disentangle
• emancipate
• manumit
• enfranchise
• unfetter
• unbind
• uncage
• unchain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remain
• stay
• linger
• dwell
• hang around
• come back
• abide
• stick around
• return
• tarry

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of break free

Defensively, Martinez can point to just one goal conceded across Portugal’s three group games, but there were warning signs from their World Cup opener as DR Congo managed to break free on the counter-attack. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Greek authorities arrested a cruise captain after a passenger fell into the water when the ship broke free from its moorings. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Contreras eventually broke free from the sea of players trying to hold him back, reigniting the chaos. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

To break free, a robot first had to move farther from the exit, and a system rewarded only for getting closer reads that as failure. — Sophie Ren, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026