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Synonyms

break with

British  

verb

  1. (intr, preposition) to end a relationship or association with (someone or an organization or social group)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

break with Idioms  
  1. Separate from, sever relations with. For example, On this issue the prime minister was forced to break with his cabinet . [Late 1500s] Also see break off , def. 2 and 3.

  2. Depart from, reject, as in The couple broke with tradition and decided to write their own marriage vows . [Late 1800s]


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.

They will not break with Washington – they need the Americans too much – but they are looking to diversify their future security.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

He already missed four games before the All-Star break with the same injury, but the Lakers withheld expectations on his status for the final five regular-season games.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

In a break with tradition, Donald Trump’s signature will appear on U.S. bank notes, according to reports.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

The deployment comes as airports struggle with long delays during a busy travel period for the spring break, with some passengers reporting waits of several hours.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Babysitting Frankie the day before was one thing, but spending the entire school break with a seven-year-old was completely unfair.

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez