break away
Idioms-
Leave hurriedly, escape, get loose. For example, The boy tried to break away, but his mother held onto his coat , or On the last lap the horse broke away from the pack . [First half of 1500s]
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Sever connections with a group. For example, It was hard for me to break away from that organization, but I knew it was necessary .
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Stop doing something, as in She broke away from work long enough to go out for lunch .
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.
The LP is a 13-song project that delves into the complicated heartache of leaving home; what does it mean to break away from the nest where one was raised?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
So Beijing is accelerating efforts to develop its own advanced semiconductors and break away from reliance on US hardware.
From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026
Although scientists understand many of the mutations that lead to tumor formation, no single genetic change explains why some cells break away and migrate while others remain in place.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026
When it became clear that Museveni did not intend to leave power, some of his former associates started to break away.
From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2026
Despite his wounds, Herbert fought wildly and somehow managed to break away.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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.
