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.
For those in that camp — who never give up hope that a great sketch is just a commercial break away — here’s what you can expect from the new season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Briefly, for a few laps, Russell and Max Verstappen threatened to break away in the lead while Antonelli was finding a way past Gasly, the two McLarens and Hamilton's Ferrari.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
It’s a bit slower, at just under 95 mph, but it features a devastatingly sharp, late break away from right-handed hitters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Even those atas who try to break away often find themselves shackled to their old masters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
As his private guards close around him, I break away, struggling against the sea of guests rushing indoors out of the rain.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
