break in 1 of 2

verb

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

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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

as in burglary

Related Words

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
Soccer fans were here and our producer observed some waiting for breaks in the traffic to pose with their Spanish and French flags by the second X in the middle of the road, in what was quite a bizarre scene. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 The vehicle was parked in a driveway when someone broke in and made off with the firearm, which a source described as a short-barrel rifle favored by law enforcement. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 14 July 2026
Noun
An older festival trailer starring Gibson features the star interrupting a break-in, while Garcia also learns about break-ins in his short film. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2026 Police officers responding to Leslie Martin’s call and separate reports of a break-in found Doug Martin hiding in a neighbor’s home. — Hannah Fingerhut, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for break in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for break in
  1. invade
  2. interrupt
  3. burglary
  4. rob
  5. cut in
  6. holdup
  7. mugging
Verb
  • Moisture invades your porch cushions and flooring, leading to the growth of mold, mildew, and algae.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Various types of cancer, in which malignant tumors invade surrounding tissues, contributed to between 13,000 and 20,000 deaths annually in this time frame.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of invade
Verb
  • Writing a letter is interrupted by demanding people and unreliable machines, by illness and trouble.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • By this evening, work or scheduling demands continue to interrupt the fantasy.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of interrupt
Noun
  • Aaron Child, a 19-year-old from Boise, was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and also two probation violations.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • The intruder, later identified as Andrew Truelove, was charged with hate crime - burglary, hate crime - menacing, hate crime - criminal trespass, and harassment by the NYPD.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Definition of burglary
Verb
  • After injuries derailed her promising elite career and the sport’s abusive culture robbed her of her joy, Ohashi reached superstar status while rediscovering her love of the sport with UCLA.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • More than a thousand people across Europe are dead, often as a result of the fact that nighttime temperatures stayed high, robbing bodies of the chance to cope.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
Definition of rob
Verb
  • The two programs most likely to keep someone fed and covered for psychiatric care were cut in the same bill, to the same population, at the same time.
    — Cole Hanson, STAT, 16 July 2026
  • Apparently, Lonnie hasn’t made a cut in seven years, a remarkable level of futility especially given that the show can’t even commit to suggesting that Lonnie’s game is spectacularly bad.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Definition of cut in
Noun
  • Colorado’s entire bipartisan congressional delegation has criticized the holdup of this funding in the midst of this year’s drought.
    — Kelly Fleming, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The holdup played a significant role in bringing about the bankruptcy filing.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 June 2026
Definition of holdup
Noun
  • Is a 1-game suspension enough for the mugging?
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026
  • While investigating this incident, CPD also learned that a shot was fired during a mugging, also in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Definition of mugging

Browse Nearby Words

breakfronts
break in
break-in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Break in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/break%20in. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on break in

Nglish: Translation of break in for Spanish Speakers

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