branch off

Take a fork

To branch off is to diverge from a main path or course, forming a separate route or direction.

Roads branch off from highways, trails branch off from main paths, and conversations branch off into tangents.

We branched off the main trail and found a hidden waterfall.

The phrase suggests departure from something established rather than an independent starting point.

diverge

fork

Tined eating tool

splitSeparation into parts
veerChange course suddenly
deviateTurn from course

turn · bifurcate · divert · angle · stray · wander · drift · depart · swerve · deflect

separate

split

Separation into parts

detachTo separate from
subdivideSplit into smaller portions
partitionBarrier separating spaces

disconnect · sever · disengage · break away · splinter · secede · disaffiliate · fork · disjoin · decouple

Categories

split offbreak up, spinoff, detach, sever, divide
separationsseparate, split, break up, parting, sever

Opposites

path continuity

branch offstay the course

Continue despite difficulties

keep going · stay on track · carry on · go straight · follow through

convergence vs. divergence

branch offmerge

Combine into unity

converge · join · come together · unite · connect

unity vs. separation

branch offconsolidate

Unite separate things

combine · integrate · fuse · coalesce · unify

Family

off, branch, branched, branches, branching, overarching, unbranched, branchlet, branchlets

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G