break-in

1 of 2

noun

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

break in

2 of 2

verb

broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

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
Noun
The backstrap helped our tester’s heel stay secure in the sandal, which prevented rubbing — essentially all-day comfort with zero break-in time. Cai Cramer, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024 The story begins with a kind of procedural description of a break-in, first as it was experienced by the narrator, and then as it was experienced by his parents and his wife. Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
After learning the broker’s daily routine, Brooklynn plans to break in while the broker is away to find out who is responsible for the ambush and why. Angel Saunders, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 The Samaritans know the moods of Border Patrol agents and the humor of a welder who fixes breaks in the wall. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 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.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1535, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of break-in was circa 1535

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 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

break-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈbrā-ˌkin
: an act or instance of breaking in

break in

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)brā-ˈkin
1
: to enter a house or building by force
2
a
: to make used to an activity
breaking in a new employee
b
: to overcome the newness or stiffness of
breaking in a new pair of shoes

Legal Definition

break-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈbrāk-ˌin
: the act or action of breaking in

break in

2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to enter something (as a building or computer system) without privilege (as consent) or by force

More from Merriam-Webster on break-in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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