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
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
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
During the April break-in, Brent said that Austin Lanz smashed through the back door with a sledgehammer, opened their blinds, and rummaged through their bed.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
The Board of Canvassers decided not to count the absentee ballots in question, as Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj had noticed a break in the chain of custody.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break-in
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Noun
The Raineses’ home in Philadelphia became the planning headquarters for the break-in.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
During the April break-in, Brent said that Austin Lanz smashed through the back door with a sledgehammer, opened their blinds, and rummaged through their bed.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
As the days wore on without a break in the case, the Guthrie family began to make public appeals to the kidnapper, ultimately offering a $1 million family reward.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
The Board of Canvassers decided not to count the absentee ballots in question, as Hamtramck City Clerk Rana Faraj had noticed a break in the chain of custody.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break-in
Cite this Entry
“Break-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break-in. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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