1 B1 neutral
to separate a piece from something larger by breaking it
"She broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to me."
separable
break off
B1 neutral mixed transitive/intransitive
to stop suddenly, separate a piece, or end a relationship or discussion
In plain English
to stop something suddenly or make a piece come away
What does "break off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to stop speaking or stop an activity suddenly
"He broke off in the middle of the sentence when the phone rang."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
to end a relationship, agreement, or discussion
"The two sides broke off negotiations after midnight."
mixed
Usage tip
Common in both literal and figurative uses. Often used for talks, engagements, branches, and pieces of food.
Words that pair with "break off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
talks negotiations a branch a piece engagement relations
How to conjugate "break off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
break off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
breaks off
he/she/it
Past simple
broke off
yesterday
Past participle
broken off
have + pp
-ing form
breaking off
continuous
Hear "break off" in the wild
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Other ways to say "break off"
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