1
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to end
to come to an end
talks between the two sides broke off when one began making unreasonable demands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break off
According to the New York Post, visitors broke off parts of the headstone as souvenirs.
—
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Barber, the detective, testified that the tip of that knife was broken off, and there appeared to be blood on the blade and handle.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
The issue is that opposing offenses have tended to run at him, like when Panthers tailback Rico Dowdle broke off a 25-yard run right before the end of the first half.
—Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Lopez and Affleck, one of the quintessential pop culture couples of the early 2000s, famously rekindled their romance in 2021 and wed the following year, two decades after breaking off their first engagement in late 2002.
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Barber, the detective, testified that the tip of that knife was broken off, and there appeared to be blood on the blade and handle.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
The issue is that opposing offenses have tended to run at him, like when Panthers tailback Rico Dowdle broke off a 25-yard run right before the end of the first half.
—Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Lopez and Affleck, one of the quintessential pop culture couples of the early 2000s, famously rekindled their romance in 2021 and wed the following year, two decades after breaking off their first engagement in late 2002.
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
-
But her six-figure salary didn’t stop her from using the Foundation as her personal piggy bank, records show.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Witkoff, Rubio, and Kushner then streamlined the proposal to a two-phase structure—first, a ceasefire and exchange of hostages and prisoners to stop the fighting; second, a framework for Gaza's future, including disarmament and a technocratic transitional government.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Despite playing just 30 minutes against West Ham, the Arsenal captain ended the game with the joint-most line-breaking passes in the final third (four).—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
In April, Brazil ended visa-free travel for citizens of the US, Canada, and Australia, citing a lack of reciprocity.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Eventually, the extended family gatherings ceased altogether.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Eventually, though, the wins and losses cease to matter.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One of the biggest changes the subcommittee discussed was the enhanced advance premium tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of 2025.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The 17-year-long lease will commence at the start of 2026, with two five-year renewal options when the term expires in June 2043, the documents state.—
Matthew Geiger,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The closure has halted routine government operations, shuttered Smithsonian museums and other landmark cultural institutions and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions, all injecting more uncertainty into an already precarious economy.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
This condition is primarily caused by genetic defects that severely disrupt or halt the complex process of sperm production, known as spermatogenesis.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Its intervention came days before a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Pettit’s latest space mission, a 220-day jaunt, concluded on his 70th birthday on April 20, when the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that carried him and his two crewmates touched down in the steppe of Kazakhstan.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Staff at The Free Press are eager to start working with CBS News; reporter Olivia Reingold appeared on CBS News Friday morning to discuss her report that anonymous NYPD officers had been threatening to quit the force if Zohran Mamdani is elected New York City mayor.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Apparently, many workers crash out and quit on the third Wednesday at the job.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The huge import taxes would come on top of the 44% tariff rate already in place on China, effectively cutting off trade between the world’s two largest economies, according to Wolfe Research.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
During the first internet suspension, one father described to NPR how his daughters were quiet, pale and withdrawn after the internet was cut off.—
NPR,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share