break-in

\ ˈbrāk-ˌin

How to pronounce break-in (audio)

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Definition of break-in

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in

Definition of break in (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to enter something (such as a building or computer system) without consent or by force

2a : 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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about break-in

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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: Verb On Monday, investigators received word that the sample had a match from the Texas Department of Public Safety, a break in the nearly year-long case that led to the arrest Friday night of 20-year-old Marcus Kenneth Cox-Davis. — Dylan Mcguinness, Houston Chronicle, "DNA match, new state law credited for arrest of suspected gas station killer," 1 Feb. 2020 The break in the case began in 2018 when the Yolo County District Attorney's Office formed a cold case task force, said Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig. — Melissa Alonso And Gregory Lemos, CNN, "Man charged with killing five of his infant children over 30 years," 29 Jan. 2020 Recently, the family told their local Stockton newspaper that the FBI alerted them to a big break in the case. — Matthias Gafni, SFChronicle.com, "Kristin Smart break: Investigators seized trucks belonging to family of person of interest," 29 Jan. 2020 Although the baby was found in 2007, Lopez said a break in the case didn't happen until last fall. — Anchorage Daily News, "California fisherman’s find leads investigators to alleged serial baby killer," 28 Jan. 2020 A few days later, on January 26, 2006, came the first big break in the case. — NBC News, "Family refuses to give up search for Jennifer Kesse who vanished 14 years ago from Orlando, Florida home," 24 Jan. 2020 Following a landmark break in the cold case of the Golden State Killer in 2018, police have since used family tree forensics to identify suspects in dozens more cases. — Wired Staff, Wired, "WIRED's 7 Big Science Stories That Shaped 2019," 23 Dec. 2019 Wildlife officers got a break in the case in September 2018 when an Evergeen resident noticed someone on his property with what appeared to be a dead, headless elk, the release said. — Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, "Texas man pleads guilty to illegally hunting trophy elk in Conifer, Evergeen backyards," 20 Dec. 2019 Though the murder of the 27-year-old roommates remains unsolved, their families are still hopeful for a break in the case. — Nicole Soto, azcentral, "Family continues to search for answers in unsolved triple-murder case, 9 years later," 1 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'break-in.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near break-in

break from (someone or something)

breaking and entering

Statistics for break-in

Cite this Entry

“Break-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break-in. Accessed 16 Feb. 2020.

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