break in 1 of 2

Definition of break innext
1
as in to invade
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent the burglars broke in by smashing a window

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to interrupt
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

break-in

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of break in
Verb
The rule was drafted in part as a response to a 2025 federal court ruling and came suddenly and without warning to veteran groups and Congress, a break in longstanding norms for significant changes to benefits. Steven Beynon, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026 Despite not making contact with the ball, the bat broke in Abreu’s hands, snapping in two and leaving him holding what remained of the handle. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
And, remember, many of the reforms that were put in place actually took place after the Watergate scandal under President Nixon, where a president was directly involved in certain domestic criminal activities that appeared with the Watergate break-in. CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 Some experts recommend an early oil change for new cars to remove metal shavings from the engine break-in period. John Paul, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for break in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break in
Verb
  • Jalisco operatives have aggressively invaded the turf of other gangs, incorporated smaller criminal bands into its ranks and put legions of police officers, judges, prosecutors and politicians on its massive payroll.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
  • But invading the second biggest country in Europe, after Russia itself, would be a potentially catastrophic prospect which would, surely, give a cold strategist like Putin pause for thought.
    Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • One scene seems to consist only of people interrupting one other’s thoughts, skipping from talking about their family’s inherent body odor to White’s sister’s desire to get a group photo with their dad banging a gong to signify his recovery.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Tensions with Ukraine grew recently after Russian oil shipments to Hungary were interrupted; Ukraine blamed the disruption on a Russian drone strike in late January that damaged a pipeline.
    Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Alfredo Muñoz has multiple prior arrests for burglary, assault, vehicle theft and weapons and drug offenses as well as resisting arrest, according to court records.
    Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Ibarra and Mejia-Machuca also pled guilty to conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and felony vandalism in connection with a separate burglary that happened just two days before the multi-million dollar heist, at Sim Valley Pawn Brokers.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In Southern California, the fervor around Pokémon cards has led to strings of break-ins in recent months at trading card stores that have amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars of losses and even some collectors robbed at gunpoint.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Bland and his two robbery crew members — Ronnie Tucker, 24, of Long Beach, and Abigail Luckey, 50, of North Hollywood — robbed 12 businesses across Los Angeles and Orange counties over a 17-day stretch in early 2024.
    Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Today, one in three households there depends on those food stamps and now the program that has fed families for decades is facing the largest cuts in history.
    Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • And nearly 2,000 trips scheduled for Tuesday have already been cut in disruptions that could continue to climb.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The switch caused a brief holdup, but the deal was agreed upon on Saturday afternoon.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2026
  • With holdups at home, investors are exploring buildouts abroad, including in the energy-rich Gulf states.
    Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • An immigrant delivery man bashed unconscious during a botched four-on-one Manhattan mugging died of his injuries months later, cops said Sunday.
    Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
  • That was the only way to see countries' delegations backflipping and mean-mugging from places like Cortina and Livigno, sort of alternating with the parade in Milan.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Break in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20in. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on break in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster