break away

/breɪk əˈweɪ/

/breɪk əˈweɪ/

Other forms: broke away; breaking away; broken away; breaks away

Definitions of break away

1. verb

   break off (a piece from a whole)
   synonyms: break off, chip, chip off, come off

   types:

   flake, flake off, peel, peel off

   come off in flakes or thin small pieces

   exfoliate

   come off in a very thin piece

   type of:

   divide, part, separate

   come apart
2. verb

   withdraw from an organization or communion
   “After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away”

   synonyms: secede, splinter

   type of:

   break, break up, part, separate, split, split up

   discontinue an association or relation; go different ways
3. verb

   move away or escape suddenly
   synonyms: break, break out

   break

   make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing

   type of:

   break loose, escape, get away

   run away from confinement
4. verb

   flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
   synonyms: bunk, escape, fly the coop, head for the hills, hightail it, lam, run, run away, scarper, scat, take to the woods, turn tail

   types:

   flee, fly, take flight

   run away quickly

   skedaddle

   run away, as if in a panic

   break

   make a rupture in the ranks of the enemy or one's own by quitting or fleeing

   stampede

   run away in a stampede

   abscond, absquatulate, bolt, decamp, go off, make off, run off

   run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along

   elope, run off

   run away secretly with one's beloved

   break loose, escape, get away

   run away from confinement

   high-tail

   retreat at full speed

   defect, desert

   desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army

   type of:

   go away, go forth, leave

   go away from a place
5. verb

   interrupt a continued activity
   synonyms: break

   type of:

   break, break up, part, separate, split, split up

   discontinue an association or relation; go different ways