breaking off
5
4.7
- noun
:
ruptura
- The breaking off of discussions led to an unexpected delay in the project.
- breaking off an engagement
- breaking off the relationship
Examples
-
Was our engagement ever broken off?
-
One suspects that her breaking off all contact with her sister as soon as she was able helped there.
Blog text (6) -
You broke off the engagement... ...and returned to England for better prospects.
-
Where do women go when they break off their engagements?
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- You're breaking off the engagement!
-
In those days, divorce was the breaking off of a betrothal, not the ending of a blood-sealed marriage.
Blog text (7) -
Clare, Nigel and I have had the most awful row and broken off our engagement.
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Florentino and Fermina continue to exchange letters during her absence until the relationship is finally broken off when Fermina returns home.
Academic text (1991) -
She regretted the sudden breaking off of their long friendship after they had a disagreement.
-
Many relationships suffer from the breaking off of communication during tough times.
Synonyms
107
3.4
The end of a relationship, often between romantic partners or groups
89
3.4
An ending of a relationship or cooperation after disagreement
44
6.9
An end to a connection between people or groups
30
4.4
A disagreement that ends or weakens a relationship
20
6.8
The official ending of a group like a partnership or parliament
12
3.9
A complete ending of a relationship or old life to start fresh
9
4.2
Being separate from people, things, or contact, for example losing internet
5
5.0
An act of leaving a group suddenly to be on your own
4
6.1
The act of separating something from the thing it is connected to
3
9.9
A sudden end to something that is happening
2
6.3
Stopping something for a short time or forever
1
6.5
The act of stopping a connection or ending involvement with something
1
7.2
Ending all contact with someone suddenly without telling them why
1
7.2
To stop something so it does not continue, sometimes for a short time or for good
An ending of a relationship or agreement, often sudden
A sudden strong argument that ends a relationship or situation
Antonyms
How Abrupt
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'breaking off' is compositionally built from 'break' (to stop or interrupt) plus the particle 'off' (indicating separation or cessation), so the sense 'a sudden interruption or termination' is directly inferable from the constituents. This is a standard verb+particle composition found across languages and follows normal English patterns, making it readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Breaking off may come from the image of something like a branch suddenly breaking and falling off a tree, a quick and clear split. That's why it means a sudden 'interruption' or 'ending' of an activity, relationship, or conversation.