break·away
ˈbrā-kə-ˌwā 
1
a
: one that breaks away
b
: a departure from or rejection of something (such as a group or tradition)
2
a
: a play (as in hockey) in which an offensive player breaks free of the defenders and rushes toward the goal
b
: a sudden acceleration by one or more bicyclists pulling away from the pack in a race
3
: an object made to shatter or collapse under pressure or impact
1
: favoring independence from an affiliation : seceding
a breakaway faction formed a new party
2
: made to break, shatter, or bend easily
breakaway road signs for highway safety
3
a
: of, relating to, or resulting from a breakaway
a breakaway goal
b
: allowing or having an ability to execute a breakaway
breakaway speed
broke away; broken away; breaking away; breaks away
1
: to detach oneself especially from a group : get away
2
: to depart from former or accustomed ways
3
: to pull away with a burst of speed
Examples of breakaway in a Sentence
Adjective
A breakaway faction formed a new party.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Late in the second period after the Sabres failed to convert on a short-handed breakaway, Cody Glass scored a power play at the other end of the ice.
—Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2023
In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
His famous works, such as The Thinker and The Kiss, break away from traditional forms, emphasizing movement, emotion, and the complexity of the human body.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for breakaway 
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Noun
Ironically, Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova with pro-Russian sentiments, is the hardest hit where frequent blackouts are common.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Late in the second period after the Sabres failed to convert on a short-handed breakaway, Cody Glass scored a power play at the other end of the ice.
—Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Furthermore, Moscow’s various calls for respect of the UN Charter would have been taken more seriously had Russia itself not unilaterally recognized the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008, or annexed Crimea and instigated a war in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014.
—Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2023
In 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
Verb
Then with four minutes left, Eric Garcia produced a dramatic header from Pedri’s perfect cross to make it 4-4, before Raphinha broke away in the 96th minute, all on his own in the Benfica half, to brilliantly send ‘keeper Anatoliy Trubin in the opposite direction with a cool and composed finish.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
His famous works, such as The Thinker and The Kiss, break away from traditional forms, emphasizing movement, emotion, and the complexity of the human body.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for breakaway
Dictionary Entries Near breakaway
Cite this Entry
“Breakaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakaway. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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