break (with) precedent

idiom

somewhat formal
: to do something that has not been done before
The voters broke (with) precedent when they elected a woman to the position.

Examples of break (with) precedent in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yet, ballots were cast even during the Civil War and WWII so the MAGA crowd would have to pull a pretty big rabbit, like the Insurrection Act, out of the hat to break precedent and award Trump a third term. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2025 As for Abruzzo, Biden was the first to break precedent by firing her predecessor, Trump appointee Peter Robb. — Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025

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break with
break (with) precedent
bream
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“Break (with) precedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20%28with%29%20precedent. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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