break off

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.

“Should we leave NATO? Should we close American bases? Should we break off trade relations? Should we storm McDonald’s?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

In midsentence, she’d suddenly break off to excitedly note a young kestrel flying near the crossing or a honeybee foraging among some early flowers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

"This enables us to measure the many different types of waves that are generated after icebergs break off," says lead author Dominik Gräff, a UW postdoctoral researcher affiliated with ETH Zurich.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

At one point it appeared she tried to break off the conversation to sit down on the frontbench but he kept going.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

I ram the chisel with the hammer, watch a corner of the stone break off, watching myself rush into the surf that winter day.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson