break off
Third Person
breaks off
Present Participle
breaking off
Past Tense
broke off
Past Participle
broken off
1
to use force to separate one thing from another
transitive
- The sculptor broke off a chunk of clay for shaping.
- The mechanic broke off the rusty bolt with a wrench.
- She broke the tree branch off with a swift motion.
- Break off a piece of chocolate for yourself.
- Break the twig off gently to avoid damage.
2
to become separated from a larger entity
- The tree branch broke off in the strong wind.
- The cookie broke off into smaller pieces when dropped.
- A piece of the sculpture broke off over time.
- The rock broke off from the cliff.
- A chunk of the ice broke off from the glacier.
Synonyms:
3
to suddenly stop an activity or an action
transitive
- The organization had to break off the event due to unforeseen circumstances.
- The athlete had to break off the race due to an unexpected injury.
- They decided to break off the negotiations until a later date.
- She breaks off the conversation whenever her phone rings.
- He broke off the conversation when he realized it was too late.
Synonyms:
4
to stop speaking or end a conversation suddenly
- The speaker broke off, suppressing a laugh.
- He broke off mid-sentence when he realized he had forgotten a crucial point.
- The speaker suddenly broke off when the fire alarm sounded.
- The politician broke off, startled, when a protest began outside the venue.
Synonyms:
5
to end a romantic or personal relationship suddenly
transitive
- She decided to break the engagement off due to irreconcilable differences.
- He broke off the friendship after a series of betrayals.
- They mutually decided to break off their romantic involvement.
- After years of strained ties, they decided to break the connection off.
- Despite efforts at reconciliation, they had to break off the family ties.