1 A2 neutral
For a road, path, or river to divide and go in a different direction from the main route.
"About two miles down the trail, a smaller path branches off to the left toward the lake."
branch off
B1 neutral intransitive
To diverge from a main path, road, or topic and go in a different direction.
In plain English
To go off in a different direction from the main road or subject, like a branch growing away from a tree trunk.
What does "branch off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
For a conversation, story, or line of thinking to move away from the main subject.
"The lecture branched off into an interesting discussion about the history of medicine."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For a branch to grow off in a different direction from the trunk or a main branch.
Actually means
To go off in a different direction from the main road or subject, like a branch growing away from a tree trunk.
Usage tip
Used both literally (roads, paths, rivers diverging) and figuratively (a conversation or story going in a different direction). The literal sense is very transparent and easy for learners to understand.
Words that pair with "branch off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
road path topic conversation river trail
How to conjugate "branch off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
branch off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
branches off
he/she/it
Past simple
branched off
yesterday
Past participle
branched off
have + pp
-ing form
branching off
continuous
Hear "branch off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "branch off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "branch off"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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