break-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌin 

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

Synonyms of break-in

Verb

• invade
• rob

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 integrator resolves the issue before morning business hours, eliminating the common nightmare scenario of discovering an unrecorded break-in weeks after the fact. — Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Homeowners insurance protects against sudden, unexpected events — a fire, a break-in or a tree falling on your roof. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Verb

The employee watched the security footage and found that nobody was breaking in. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Hamilton recommends fossil hunters search along the water’s edge where the waves break in search of whale bone vertebrae, crocodile teeth, and ray plates. — Katie Riley, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for break-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

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