1
as in stops
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the judge broke off court proceedings until after lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ends
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
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Recent Examples of breaks off
That Sun team, led by Tina Charles, is beating the breaks off the Sparks.
—
Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Each one of those, in this quantum theory, breaks off into another block of cheese.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
State officials compared the project to Boise’s Flying Wye, where the I-184 Connector breaks off from I-84 west of downtown Boise.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Second, the flowing glacier brings more ice forward to replace what breaks off, slowing the cliff’s inland retreat and making a chain reaction of cliff toppling less likely.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Kiese Laymon, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026
Each one of those, in this quantum theory, breaks off into another block of cheese.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
State officials compared the project to Boise’s Flying Wye, where the I-184 Connector breaks off from I-84 west of downtown Boise.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
The scene where ‘80s teen Marty McFly borrows a scooter from a bewildered ‘50s kid and breaks off the handles to make a skateboard is one of the film’s most iconic moments.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Second, the flowing glacier brings more ice forward to replace what breaks off, slowing the cliff’s inland retreat and making a chain reaction of cliff toppling less likely.
—Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaks off
Verb
-
The city’s easy-to-use tram system has stops just two blocks away.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Four stops along the way offer free refreshments from highlighted local businesses.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Voting for the mall ends June 1.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Fans who fear Major League Baseball is headed toward a work stoppage because the collective-bargaining agreement ends later this year could not have liked the events of the past week.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
With a simple pair of black flats and a light sweater draped over her shoulders, her light blue satin slip dress ceases to be reserved for special occasions.—
Michel Mejía,
Glamour,
30 May 2026
-
Once delivery becomes observable, the human response layer ceases to be a black box.—
Judit Sharon,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
State law requires a special election the following November to elect a successor to complete the rest of Klobuchar’s current six-year term, which expires in 2030.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
With club captain Dani Carvajal leaving as his contract expires, Madrid will lose their captain for the sixth season in a row — following the exits of Ramos (2021), Marcelo (2022), Karim Benzema (2023) Nacho (2024, when Toni Kroos left, too) and Luka Modric (2025, when Lucas Vazquez also departed).—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Not necessarily that the basketball becomes easier, but each minute is so tense, both teams are so focused and each possession is so tight that the winner is often decided by which team — or player — can execute when the game halts to a grind.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
Cooper’s ruling halts those plans for now.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
After certification work concludes, Airbus will retrofit the aircraft to Qantas’ final commercial specifications ahead of delivery preparations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
-
The trailer concludes with Reinsve entering the space as well.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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As the rocket’s core stage cuts off, the zero G indicator will begin to float, identifying the moment when the crew is officially in space.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Turning your phone off or using airplane mode cuts off wireless communication while still allowing alarms to work.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Leaving Pemberton’s agricultural valley behind, the route passes steep rock faces before opening into a deep and rugged canyon shaped by the Fraser River.—
Vivian Chung,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
-
When a radio wave passes through, the atoms respond in a way that reveals the field’s strength, direction, and movement in three dimensions.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaks off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaks%20off. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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