Dictionary definition · break away
verb
- move away or escape suddenly"The horses broke from the stable"
- break off (a piece from a whole)"Her tooth chipped"
- interrupt a continued activity"She had broken with the traditional patterns"
- withdraw from an organization or communion"After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away"
- flee; take to one's heels; cut and run"If you see this man, run!"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).