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.

The report said it was very likely that the glacier tongue would break off in the coming years, splitting the glacier in two.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“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

Genesis offered to refund the intended mother, Ann Gottesman, its $35,000 agency fee if she chose to break off the relationship with Genesis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

I break off a twig and scrape at the dust in the outlines.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed