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
Don’t twist or jerk the tick, which can cause the mouth to break off in your skin.
—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
If skin contact occurs, those spines can break off in the skin, leading to a burning and stinging sensation, followed by numbness, tingling, swelling, and nausea.
—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
The fuselage came to rest across a concrete barrier, while its tail broke off and fell to a lower section of roadway.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
That trail of vaporizing particles breaking off the asteroid causes a bright streak of light across the sky called a meteor, or colloquially a shooting star.
—
Adam Lark,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break off
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
If skin contact occurs, those spines can break off in the skin, leading to a burning and stinging sensation, followed by numbness, tingling, swelling, and nausea.
—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
The fuselage came to rest across a concrete barrier, while its tail broke off and fell to a lower section of roadway.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
That trail of vaporizing particles breaking off the asteroid causes a bright streak of light across the sky called a meteor, or colloquially a shooting star.
—
Adam Lark,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for break off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break off
Verb
-
Chisholm scored on Jose Caballero's RBI groundout in the fourth inning before hitting a two-run homer in the sixth as New York ended a three-game losing streak and stopped Detroit's four-game winning streak.
-
Disneyland officials said a cast member immediately stopped the ride.
Verb
-
Kylee and Aven left Bachelor in Paradise in a relationship but without an engagement, though their romance ended shortly after the season finale aired.
-
The dismissal of the arson charge does not end the criminal case against Hobby.
Verb
-
As of Monday evening, no formal announcement had been made regarding when the facility would cease operations or when the demobilization process would be completed.
-
Haiti ceased making payments in 1947.
Verb
-
Picking the right spots will become as important as ever, especially as more legacy contracts expire.
-
The California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026 would indefinitely extend an existing tax on couples who make above $680,000 and individuals who make above $340,000 that’s currently set to expire in 2030.
Verb
-
Starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep made his 2026 debut by throwing two-plus innings of scoreless relief, and Ozzie Albies drove in a pair of runs as the Braves beat the Giants 3-1 at Oracle Park on Friday to halt a four-game losing streak.
-
When Minneapolis forced its adult bathhouses to close nearly four decades ago, leaders were desperate to halt the spread of AIDS.
Verb
-
The bidding process that won AllHere the contract had concluded months before the Carvalho travel to Washington.
-
The series is even, 1-1, and concludes Sunday afternoon.
Verb
-
After working in the steel mill himself, Stocklas quit and entered public life, eventually serving in the county council and as a district judge.
-
The standout chef has his reasons for quitting.
Verb
-
Through a series of measures starting in 2022, Washington has cut off China’s access to the cutting-edge GPUs, throttling Chinese companies’ efforts in competing for the top AI models with US tech giants.
-
But Emerald Bay is gate-guarded, accessible only to residents, and its half-mile stretch of golden sand is bordered by the cliffs of two jutting points, geographically cutting off public access via other beaches.
Cite this Entry
“Break off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20off. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
