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
Finally, investigators had a break in the case in September 2021, when Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares was pulled over for allegedly driving while intoxicated. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2026 Amenities and experiences For those who want a relaxing break in between national park hikes and Colorado River rafting, head to the on-site massage cave for a calming treatment. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
Noun
After her death, counterterrorism police reopened a probe into an alleged firebomb and break-in attempt at Farage’s south London home in April 2025. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 For many companies, security only becomes a priority after something goes wrong—a break-in, a lawsuit or an overnight incident. — Sami Nomair, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 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
  • Lavrov has traveled only infrequently to NATO member states since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and severe sanctions were imposed on Moscow.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • What makes this duty the more urgent is the fact, that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of invade
Verb
  • Rescue efforts were interrupted Tuesday by menacing Russian drones, forcing soldiers to halt recovery operations and open fire to try to bring them down.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The watch lasts up to 40 hours, ensuring your tracking won't be interrupted.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of interrupt
Noun
  • Ochoa has a 2008 burglary conviction in Santa Barbara County and Thompkins has a 2014 burglary conviction in Tulare County, according to the Los Angeles Times and SFGATE.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Prosecutors have alleged that both are eligible for sentencing enhancements for prior strike felony offenses — Ochoa for a 2008 burglary conviction in Santa Barbara County, and Tompkins for a 2014 burglary conviction in Tulare County.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of burglary
Verb
  • Jacob Arriaga Guerrero was arrested March 23, 2025, after stealing a pickup truck, robbing a woman at gunpoint at a Walmart in Crowley and leading Crowley police on a pursuit into Johnson County.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Baltimore Police are investigating after two people attempted to rob a restaurant in Southeast Baltimore while customers were being served.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of rob
Verb
  • The actor and producer has swapped the shaggy, caramel-toned lengths of recent months for a razor-sharp, jaw-grazing cut in a cool-toned shade of blonde.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The gap in total investment between the richest and poorest children is cut in half, from 24% to 12%.
    — David Blazar, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of cut in
Noun
  • Perilous jungles, scorching deserts and frozen tundra slowed him down, but bureaucratic holdups brought his adventure to a halt for long periods.
    — Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Service learned the holdup was due to the site in question also being considered a homeless encampment.
    — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of holdup
Noun
  • Trump’s Arch will commemorate his overnight mugging of Venezuela and his colossal misadventures in Iran.
    — Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026
  • It’s been 14 years since that mugging, and I haven’t been robbed since, despite traveling to more than 60 countries and moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
    — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 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 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abandon

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All