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Glite Dictionary
🚩 To leave a group 🔄 To change habits 🏃 To escape 🧩 To detach
to break away

to break away

5 3.6
To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group
  • phrasal verb
  • /breɪk əˈweɪ/
translation icon : escaparse de
  • Hakim broke away from the altar and drifted off to the south corner of the site.

Examples

  • Somehow, he breaks away, gets into his car, and drives off.

    Them! (1954)

  • Leo breaks away from his phone conversation for two seconds.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Plan B is they grab me, I'm going to strike, break away and run.

  • He's trying to break away from the pack.

    You, Me and Dupree (2006)

  • He tried to break away, to escape.

    The Oblong Box (1969)

  • At the last moment, he breaks away and disappears around the side of the building.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The dog was quick enough to break away from the leash and chase after the cat.

  • During the commotion, he saw his chance to break away from the crowd and make a run for it.

  • She managed to break away from her captors and alert the authorities.

Synonyms

to leave
vsto break away
∞ 1.0

To go away from a place, person, or group

is sudden escape from control or capture rather than a simple ordinary departure
to run
vsto break away
∞ 1.0

To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind

means sudden separation to avoid control or capture rather than general fast movement
to get out
vsto break away
∞ 1.0

Leave a place or situation

is about sudden escape from control or group rather than general departure
to escape
vsto break away
∞ 1.0

To get away from a place where you are kept or are in danger

focuses on sudden separation from control or a group rather than general departure
to break
vsto break away
626 3.2

To move away suddenly, often changing direction

is used as a two word phrasal form rather than the single word
to split
vsto break away
575 2.3

End a relationship or go separate ways

is sudden escape from control or capture rather than a voluntary planned division
to run away
vsto break away
550 1.6

To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control

may involve public sudden separation from control rather than secret flight
to separate
vsto break away
481 2.9

To move apart or stop being together

is sudden escape from control or capture rather than a gradual or mutual separation
to get away
vsto break away
165 3.0

To escape from people who are holding you, often by force

is about sudden separation from a group or authority rather than only escaping confinement
to escape from
vsto break away
137 2.7

To get away from a person, place, or situation that causes trouble

also covers sudden separation from a group or from control not only fleeing
to pull away
vsto break away
86 3.5

To move away from people or a place to create space

is sudden escape from control or capture rather than slowly creating distance
to disengage
vsto break away
82 5.3

To stop being part of or connected to something

is sudden escape from authority or a group rather than a neutral mechanical release
to divorce
vsto break away
59 4.6

To separate yourself completely from someone or something

is sudden separation to escape control rather than a formal legal or social ending
to break out
vsto break away
51 3.6

To get free quickly from a place or situation, often from captivity

is broader applying to sudden separation from control or from a group
to extricate
vsto break away
22 7.6

Free a person or thing from something that traps them

involves sudden escape from control rather than mainly careful rescue or removal
to hightail it
vsto break away
  • Informal
16 8.4

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

is about sudden separation from control or a group not only quick flight
to disassociate
vsto break away
16 7.0

To end a connection with a person, group, or idea

is sudden separation from control or a group rather than formal ending of ties
to fly the coop
vsto break away
  • Informal
12 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

is about sudden separation from control or a group rather than mere unauthorized leaving
to break free from
vsto break away
11 4.1

To escape limits or control and become independent

stresses a sudden separation rather than the long term process of gaining independence
to splinter
vsto break away
11 6.2

To leave a group and form a smaller, separate one often after disagreement

is sudden escape from control or capture rather than deliberate factional withdrawal
to break loose
vsto break away
8 3.9

To force yourself free from a place or person

focuses on sudden separation rather than the effort or force involved
to turn tail
vsto break away
7 7.0

To run away quickly because you are afraid

often implies fleeing from fear or defeat rather than deliberate separation from control
to bolt from
vsto break away
  • Informal
5 5.8

To leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly

implies sudden flight to escape control or capture rather than mere quick departure
to bolt out
vsto break away
  • Informal
5 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

stresses sudden separation from control or a group rather than surprise-driven exit
to head for the hills
vsto break away
  • Informal
4 7.8

To run away quickly to escape danger

means flee to safety from danger while main concept stresses sudden separation from control
to dissociate
vsto break away
3 6.7

To stop being involved with a person, group, or idea

is sudden separation from control or capture rather than formal or psychological distancing
to peel off
vsto break away
3 4.1

To leave a group and move away in a different direction

is sudden escape from control or capture rather than a planned change in formation
to rush away
vsto break away
2 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

focuses on escaping control or capture rather than merely leaving in haste
to scat
vsto break away
  • Archaic
1 9.1

Leave quickly, often because you are scared

is about sudden separation from control rather than informal order to leave
to scarper
vsto break away
  • UK
1 9.7

To run away quickly to avoid trouble

focuses on sudden removal from control or capture rather than mere hasty leaving
to lam
vsto break away
  • Slang
9.9

To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police

is about sudden separation from a group or authority not only evading capture
to make a bolt
vsto break away
6.8

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

focuses on sudden escape from control rather than general quick leaving
to take to the woods
vsto break away
  • Informal
8.6

Run quickly into the woods to escape danger

often implies hiding in remote places while main concept focuses on sudden group separation
to kick loose
vsto break away
  • Informal
8.1

To free yourself from a promise or duty that controls your life

is sudden escape from external control rather than a figurative release from duty

Antonyms

to join
∞ 1.0

Become a member of a group or take part in its activities

to submit
187 4.1

To accept another person's control, often against your wishes

How Free

escape
320 1.1
to break away
5 3.6
to slip away
32 3.4
to hold
∞ 1.9

Surface Forms

break away infinitive
breaking away present participle
breaks away third person singular
broke away past
broken away past participle

Morphology

break + away

The meaning 'to separate or detach' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'break' (to cause something to separate) with 'away' (movement or separation to another location), so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning. This verb+particle composition is a common, compositional pattern in English (and mirrored in many languages), making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Break away comes from the image of someone forcing free, like a prisoner snapping a rope or chain and running off. So it means 'to escape' or suddenly pull free from control.