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
Just last week, 65-year-old Lydia Zuniga’s leg was broken in three places after a mentally ill stranger shoved her onto the tracks at a Bronx subway station in an unprovoked attack. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026 Absent a break in the war’s current stalemate between now and the November midterms, the President and his party may end up paying a higher political price. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
One of them told television station 10 News in 2023 that the community was recovering emotionally from news of the break-in. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 Also last year, three men alleged to be part of a theft group from South America were indicted in a break-in at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Aug. 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
  • Yaroslav Perepadya has built a life in Davis since fleeing Ukraine with his teenage son after Russia invaded their country in 2022.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Australia clung to its final six point margin for the last 27 minutes of the match when tiredness induced by altitude in the mountainous venue saw some sloppiness and imprecision invade its game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of invade
Verb
  • Labs are being shuttered and scientific innovation is being interrupted.
    — Abdullah Shihipar, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Referee Paul Turner interrupted the strikes, resulting in boos from Wembley.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of interrupt
Noun
  • The police will have to disclose only reports of crimes that took place on the campus itself, and not reports concerning burglary, larceny and other offenses, which the judge deemed irrelevant.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Chicago police are investigating a string of car burglaries that occurred on the city's Near West Side this week.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of burglary
Verb
  • Named after Blythe Street — a short thoroughfare flanked by overcrowded apartments — the crew had robbed, stole, peddled drugs and shot up rivals since the 1980s, seemingly untroubled by the city of Los Angeles’ attempts to defeat it.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The backlash against hyperscale data centers has converted both Democrats and Republicans into AI skeptics, warning that the industry’s rise risks robbing communities of autonomy.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rob
Verb
  • Stricker Auto Parts made sure every VIN was removed from the body shells, which employees like Woodley then cut in half.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The drop coincides with a 27% cut in enforcement and collection staffing at the IRS, as part of Elon Musk's campaign to boost government efficiency.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of cut in
Noun
  • From a creative perspective there hasn't been much holdup on that front, according to another person familiar with the matter.
    — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The El Niño butterfly effect If there are significant holdups at the canal, vessels will bring their cargo to a US West Coast port and truck it across the country, Yadav said.
    — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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