to break off

Examples

• All

• Please don't attempt to follow me or I will break off all communications.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Of course, he took umbrage at the tone of my suggestion and broke off the conversation.

  Academic text (1996)

• I think he was trying to break off with her, and she went crazy.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I know that he broke off your engagement five weeks before the wedding.

  Destination Wedding (2018)

• I'm gonna break off the engagement.

  Red Riding Hood (2011)

• You broke off the engagement... ...and returned to England for better prospects.

  Sherlock Holmes (2010)

• She broke off our engagement a week before we were supposed to get married.

  Yinz (2019)

• Finally, Charles Gustav realized that he was being played and broke off the talks.

• As they walked down the staircase, she said, "I broke off with Andre."

  Fiction book (1993)

• The Soviets responded by breaking off both the INF and START negotiations completely.

  Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

S

to stop

vsto break off

∞ 1.0

To make something end and not continue

is a sudden interruption rather than a general action to end things

C

to cut off

vsto break off

620 3.8

To stop something suddenly before it is finished

is used for sudden interruption in conversations, activities, or relationships

T

to take a break

vsto break off

496 1.4

To stop doing something for a short time to rest or relax before continuing

is a sudden interruption that is usually unplanned and ends an activity

P

to pause

vsto break off

346 1.0

Stop for a short time before continuing

is a sudden interruption that happens abruptly rather than a short delay

C

to cease

vsto break off

324 3.6

To stop or come to an end

is a sudden interruption that often happens unexpectedly during action

S

to split up

vsto break off

• Informal

137 2.7

To end a close relationship and go separate ways

is more general and applies to conversations and activities as well as relationships

L

to leave off

vsto break off

• Informal

104 4.1

Stop doing something for a short time, for example at a point in a book

is a sudden interruption that prevents normal continuation until later

C

to cut short

vsto break off

67 3.5

Stop something earlier than planned

is often a sudden interruption that affects speech or relationships

D

to discontinue

vsto break off

58 4.2

To stop something that is happening or being given

is a sudden interruption rather than a planned or gradual ending

B

to break with

vsto break off

23 4.1

End a relationship with someone or something in a clear, final way

is a sudden interruption used more generally across speech and activities

C

to come to a halt

vsto break off

• Informal

13 3.4

Stop moving or working completely

is a sudden interruption focused on speech, actions, or relationships

B

to break up

vsto break off

11 3.3

Interrupt an activity so it stops for a short time

is a sudden interruption that often ends before expected completion

P

to put the brakes on

vsto break off

11 4.3

To slow down an activity or stop it

is a sudden interruption that happens immediately instead of gradual slowing

S

to stop cold

vsto break off

• Informal

3 5.2

Freeze and stay completely still because of surprise or fear

is a sudden interruption usually affecting speech, activities, or relationships

H

to hit pause

vsto break off

• Informal

2 4.3

Temporarily stop an activity to rest or think

is a sudden interruption that ends things without a planned short halt

P

to pull up short

vsto break off

1 5.8

To stop suddenly before you expect it

is a sudden interruption used across conversations, activities, and relationships

P

to put a full stop

vsto break off

• UK

1 3.6

End something completely so it does not continue

is often sudden and interrupts before normal planned completion

B

to break short

vsto break off

5.4

To stop something before it finishes

is more sudden and often applies to conversations or relationships

Antonyms

C

to continue

∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

R

to resume

297 3.1

To start an activity again after a pause

How Final

to end

∞ 1.0

to call off

91 2.8

to break off

50 3.2

to interrupt

909 2.5

to pause

346 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology