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

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

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
When news broke in Semafor last month that Paramount was seriously considering a move out of California generally, critics dismissed the threat as a move to manufacture leverage in negotiations. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026 Sakkas conducted research in the 1990s that looked at the DNA of sperm from men with fertility problems and found little breaks in the molecules’ structure. — Sarah Elizabeth Richards, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
Borg was identified as a suspect in a February break-in of the same building, but he hasn’t been charged, court records show. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 July 2026 In February 2025, three men alleged to be part of a South American theft group were indicted in the break-in at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home. — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 19 July 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
  • The greybeards will take on the suicide mission of storming the castle walls, erecting ladders, and invading the city while arrows and rocks rain down on them.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Frantic skirmishes between the family and the beast take place as the house floods, and eventually the invading creature is tangled up in a trap.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of invade
Verb
  • Before Kat can say anything, the rest of the crew interrupts, ready for dinner.
    — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • At this point, the source was interrupted by the delivery of a large fruit basket from the marketing department of Universal Pictures, which the source was quick to decline.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of interrupt
Noun
  • Lackey was charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, criminal mischief and interruption of critical infrastructure, according to the booking report.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Lackey is accused of burglary, criminal mischief and interrupting critical infrastructure.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of burglary
Verb
  • The October break-ins at the museum happened less than a week before the Louvre was robbed of the country’s crown jewels on October 19th, in a brazen heist that led to the eventual ousting of Louvre president Laurence des Cars.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The hypothesis was that one of the men — linked to organized crime groups that robbed wealthy homes — attempted to rob the Percy home and Valerie had woken up.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rob
Verb
  • After the Federal Reserve issued three rate cuts in the final four months of 2025 – which followed the same pattern from 2024 – many expected the rate climate to continue to cool into 2026.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Although the district reported substantial cuts in its third interim budget report, many of the improvements came from one-time savings, and the district was still projected to remain in the red.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut in
Noun
  • The holdup for Blanche came a day after the Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • Yet the biggest holdup by far is the bill’s ethics provisions, which would govern how lawmakers and the president make money on crypto.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 29 July 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of break in for Spanish Speakers

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