1
: the act or action of breaking in
a rash of break-ins at the new apartment house
2
: a performance or a series of performances serving as a trial run
3
: an initial period of operation during which working parts begin to function efficiently
broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in
1
: to enter something (such as a building or computer system) without consent or by force
2
a
: intrude
break in upon his privacy
b
: to interrupt a conversation
3
: to start in an activity or enterprise
breaking in as a cub reporter
1
: to accustom to a certain activity or occurrence
break in the new clerk
2
: to overcome the stiffness or newness of
break in a pair of shoes
Synonyms
Examples of break-in in a Sentence
Verb
the burglars broke in by smashing a window
he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met
Recent Examples on the Web
Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024
The owner of Sunset Sound had previously complained that the encampment, sidewalk fires and a break-in had threatened the business and made high-profile artists uncomfortable.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024
Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 11 June 2024
Before news broke in the past week that two of Brad Pitt’s daughters have stopped using his surname, a report said that Tom Cruise’s daughter, Suri, didn’t want to use her mega-star dad’s last name when performing recently in a stage musical.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in 
Noun
The intruder fled the scene after the break-in but police scanned the area and found the man, taking him into custody without incident, according to the LAPD.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024
The owner of Sunset Sound had previously complained that the encampment, sidewalk fires and a break-in had threatened the business and made high-profile artists uncomfortable.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024
Verb
The Great Lakes Water Authority has isolated a break in a water transmission main in Northville that occurred early Friday morning.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 11 June 2024
Before news broke in the past week that two of Brad Pitt’s daughters have stopped using his surname, a report said that Tom Cruise’s daughter, Suri, didn’t want to use her mega-star dad’s last name when performing recently in a stage musical.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near break-in
Cite this Entry
“Break-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break-in. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
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