From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbreak away phrasal verb1 LEAVE A JOB OR ORGANIZATIONto leave a group or political party and form another group, usually because of a disagreement More than 30 Labour MPs broke away to form a new left-wing party. from They broke away from the national union and set up their own local organization. → breakaway22 to leave your home, family, or job and become independent from I felt the need to break away from home.3 MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONto move away from someone who is holding you She started crying and tried to break away. from She broke away from him and ran to the door.4 to move away from other people in a race or game Radcliffe broke away 200 metres before the finish.5 to become loose and no longer attached to something Part of the plane’s wing had broken away. → break→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
break away• John never forgave Lawrence for breaking away and going into competition with him.• As he leans over, the boat sheers again into the stream, the stem-post breaks away and she is loose.• He knew how difficult she would find breaking away from the life she had been living.• It broke away in my hands.• No more breaking in but breaking away, leaving and letting loose into the impending night.• Had he broken away more decisively earlier, the outcome might have been different.• They broke away to work independently and become their own masters.• She broke away, uttering that mooing noise.break from• During that time, Portugal's colonies broke away from colonial rule.• Money was left to my great-grandfather, but he never collected it because he broke away from his family.• Ocalan has said rebels who broke away from his group may have had a hand in the killing.• The woman broke away from police, but was later caught.• A truly contemporary eucharistic prayer might safely break away from the berakah.• How do stocks like Quarterdeck and Iomega break away from the conventional pack and come away with the winnings?• Connors got his fuel bladder raked and had to break away from the flight.• En route to Palau, Carrier Division 5 broke away from the main body and headed for the homeland.• Then one jet broke away from the rest.break from• Money was left to my great-grandfather, but he never collected it because he broke away from his family.• Ocalan has said rebels who broke away from his group may have had a hand in the killing.• A truly contemporary eucharistic prayer might safely break away from the berakah.• How do stocks like Quarterdeck and Iomega break away from the conventional pack and come away with the winnings?• Connors got his fuel bladder raked and had to break away from the flight.• En route to Palau, Carrier Division 5 broke away from the main body and headed for the homeland.• Then one jet broke away from the rest.break from• Money was left to my great-grandfather, but he never collected it because he broke away from his family.• Ocalan has said rebels who broke away from his group may have had a hand in the killing.• A truly contemporary eucharistic prayer might safely break away from the berakah.• How do stocks like Quarterdeck and Iomega break away from the conventional pack and come away with the winnings?• Connors got his fuel bladder raked and had to break away from the flight.• En route to Palau, Carrier Division 5 broke away from the main body and headed for the homeland.• Then one jet broke away from the rest. 