break off
Britishverb
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to sever or detach or be severed or detached
it broke off in my hands
he broke a piece off the bar of chocolate
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(adverb) to end (a relationship, association, etc) or (of a relationship, etc) to be ended
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(intr, adverb) to stop abruptly; halt
he broke off in the middle of his speech
noun
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Stop abruptly, as in The trade talks broke off yesterday . [First half of 1300s]
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Separate, sever a connection, as in The baby broke off the tops of all the flowers , or The new sect has broken off from the established church . [First half of 1500s]
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End a relationship or friendship, as in Mary broke off her engagement to Rob . [Mid-1600s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lizzie broke off from her story, and turned to look at us.
From Literature
During tours of the newly returned land, tribal culture experts kept breaking off to take care of the various native plants that they noticed needed some love.
From Los Angeles Times
Silently, Torak broke off a head of grass and split it with his thumbnail; letting the fine seeds float away on the breeze.
From Literature
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—” He breaks off, trying to figure out what to apologize for.
From Literature
The show inspired optimism, yes, but it certainly didn’t turn the dial so decisively toward radical hope that the knob broke off.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
