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
Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Cassidy Manetta, the marketing manager for the theater, told reporters in a press release Friday that the break-in is projected to cost the theater over $250,000.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
News of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's divorce broke in September.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for break-in
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Noun
Martin died last weekend at age 36 while in police custody in Oakland after a home break-in.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2025
Cassidy Manetta, the marketing manager for the theater, told reporters in a press release Friday that the break-in is projected to cost the theater over $250,000.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
As Republicans reject Democratic demands for health care funds, there’s no sign of a break in the impasse, but Trump seems to be continuing on with business as usual, including his foreign trip.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
News of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's divorce broke in September.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
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 31 Oct. 2025.
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