1 B1 neutral
to get free from someone or something that is holding or controlling you
"The child broke away from his father and ran toward the beach."
inseparable
break away
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
to escape, separate, or move free from someone or something
In plain English
to get free and go away from something holding you
What does "break away" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to leave a group, organization, or tradition in order to become independent
"Several members broke away and formed a new party."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
to move ahead of others suddenly in a race or game
"One cyclist broke away from the pack on the final hill."
inseparable
Usage tip
Common in sports, politics, and general movement. Often followed by 'from'.
Words that pair with "break away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
from the group from control from tradition runner horse branch
How to conjugate "break away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
break away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
breaks away
he/she/it
Past simple
broke away
yesterday
Past participle
broken away
have + pp
-ing form
breaking away
continuous
Hear "break away" in the wild
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Other ways to say "break away"
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