Phrase guide

break ranks

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To march or charge out of the designated order in a military unit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To publicly disagree with one's own group or organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: انْشَقَّ — march out of the designated order
  • Armenian: շարքից դուրս գալ (šarkʻicʻ durs gal) — march out of the designated order
  • Chinese Mandarin: 打亂隊形 /打乱队形 (dǎluàn duìxíng) — march out of the designated order
  • Chinese Mandarin: 擅自行動 /擅自行动 (shànzì xíngdòng) — march out of the designated order
  • Finnish: poiketa rivistä — march out of the designated order
  • French: rompre les rangs — march out of the designated order
  • German: aus der Reihe treten — march out of the designated order
  • Italian: rompere le fila — march out of the designated order
  • Polish: wyłamać się — march out of the designated order
  • Portuguese: sair de formação — march out of the designated order
  • Russian: расстра́иваться (rasstráivatʹsja) — march out of the designated order
  • Russian: расстро́иться (rasstróitʹsja) — march out of the designated order
  • Spanish: romper filas — march out of the designated order
  • Arabic: انْشَقَّ — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Armenian: տարաձայնել (tarajaynel) — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Chinese Mandarin: 公開異議 /公开异议 (gōngkāi yìyì) — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Finnish: poiketa rivistä — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Finnish: potkia aisan yli — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • French: se désolidariser — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • German: aus der Reihe tanzen — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Italian: uscire dai ranghi — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Portuguese: romper com — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Russian: расстра́иваться (rasstráivatʹsja) — publicly disagree with one's own group
  • Russian: расстро́иться (rasstróitʹsja) — publicly disagree with one's own group