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
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
At the time of its release, the resonance between The Conversation’s tech and the Watergate break-in was unmistakable but unintended; Coppola wrote the screenplay before the White House Plumbers’ malfeasance became front-page news.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
Cons There is a break-in period as the leather straps caused some irritation in the beginning.
—Olivia Avitt, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
The break-in at the embassy of Ecuador happened almost a year after hundreds of Cubans crammed into the Peruvian embassy in Havana in April 1980 seeking political asylum.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Each facility was studied before a break-in to determine access, security measures and what looked good to steal, investigators said in court papers.
—Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Guests are expected to park on the street (where there are plenty of spots but issues with break-ins).
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
But Take Note These did have a break-in period (our tester needed to apply a small bandage after wearing these the first time) but felt fine after the first or second wear.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
The break-in was described as elaborate and suggested an experienced crew who knew how to gain entry to a secure facility and go unnoticed.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
Taking a brief break in our live mock night to write a column on tonight’s Panthers-Lightning playoff Game 3.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Choi said the suspect jumped over a fence and broke in through the back of the residence.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
After taking a 10-year break in 2004, Ruggiero has appeared in several TV shows, like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
—Ale Russian, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
The suspects broke in through a back window and made off with $100,000 in currency and $200,000 in jewelry, including an expensive Rolex watch, according to authorities.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
But then again, the gambling story was going to break in Anaheim too, so …
Definitely did not have any of this on the proverbial bingo card, though, that’s for sure.
—Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
That conflict, which brought 150,000 U.S. troops to Iran’s doorstep, quickly broke in Tehran’s favor.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
Who was going to tell me that these protocols will break in such a way?
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Noun
Officials said the shooting was reported as a break-in around 10:25 a.m.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
At the time of its release, the resonance between The Conversation’s tech and the Watergate break-in was unmistakable but unintended; Coppola wrote the screenplay before the White House Plumbers’ malfeasance became front-page news.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
Cons There is a break-in period as the leather straps caused some irritation in the beginning.
—Olivia Avitt, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
The break-in at the embassy of Ecuador happened almost a year after hundreds of Cubans crammed into the Peruvian embassy in Havana in April 1980 seeking political asylum.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Each facility was studied before a break-in to determine access, security measures and what looked good to steal, investigators said in court papers.
—Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Guests are expected to park on the street (where there are plenty of spots but issues with break-ins).
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
But Take Note These did have a break-in period (our tester needed to apply a small bandage after wearing these the first time) but felt fine after the first or second wear.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
The break-in was described as elaborate and suggested an experienced crew who knew how to gain entry to a secure facility and go unnoticed.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
The organization now appears broken in ways that seem impossible to imagine repairing.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
Taking a brief break in our live mock night to write a column on tonight’s Panthers-Lightning playoff Game 3.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Choi said the suspect jumped over a fence and broke in through the back of the residence.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
After taking a 10-year break in 2004, Ruggiero has appeared in several TV shows, like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
—Ale Russian, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
The suspects broke in through a back window and made off with $100,000 in currency and $200,000 in jewelry, including an expensive Rolex watch, according to authorities.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
But then again, the gambling story was going to break in Anaheim too, so …
Definitely did not have any of this on the proverbial bingo card, though, that’s for sure.
—Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
That conflict, which brought 150,000 U.S. troops to Iran’s doorstep, quickly broke in Tehran’s favor.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
Who was going to tell me that these protocols will break in such a way?
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
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 1 May. 2024.
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