1
as in invading
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 interrupting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of breaking in
Wild forward Nico Sturm has been breaking in his Team Germany skates at a few Minnesota practices, and joked about hiding his on-ice moves from NHL teammates that may be foes in Italy.
—
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Dark selvedge blue has a professional and polished edge that simultaneously conjures vintage workwear, breaking in over time.
—Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Frightened by the thought of breaking in your jeans?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Settling Manning down — as well as a host of inexperienced starters on offense that includes breaking in four guys on the O-line — would go a long way toward Texas looking like the team that came into this season with such lofty expectations.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Many locals already have tight circles, and breaking in takes patience and persistence.
—Cepee Tabibian, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The Italian was the first to shake up the scoreboard, breaking in the fifth and then holding serve for a 4-2 lead.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Pushing and carrying and pulling heavy weights taught me to get comfortable with breaking in order to become stronger, more resilient.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
At left guard and left tackle, the offense is breaking in a second-year player who’s a former tackle and a rookie in San Diego’s Josh Simmons, who last played a regular-season game in October.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Dark selvedge blue has a professional and polished edge that simultaneously conjures vintage workwear, breaking in over time.
—Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Frightened by the thought of breaking in your jeans?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Settling Manning down — as well as a host of inexperienced starters on offense that includes breaking in four guys on the O-line — would go a long way toward Texas looking like the team that came into this season with such lofty expectations.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Many locals already have tight circles, and breaking in takes patience and persistence.
—Cepee Tabibian, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The Italian was the first to shake up the scoreboard, breaking in the fifth and then holding serve for a 4-2 lead.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Pushing and carrying and pulling heavy weights taught me to get comfortable with breaking in order to become stronger, more resilient.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
At left guard and left tackle, the offense is breaking in a second-year player who’s a former tackle and a rookie in San Diego’s Josh Simmons, who last played a regular-season game in October.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking in
Verb
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The thymus is responsible for producing the body’s T cells, which help to target and destroy invading pathogens.—
Taylor Mitchell Brown,
Scientific American,
14 Feb. 2026
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The Pentagon worries that an expanding Chinese arsenal could be a prelude to invading Taiwan or an attempt to beat America's missile defenses, Panda said.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This was the right choice—the drama of the sandy shore, contrasted by the vivid blue-green of the sea, is too harmonious a pairing to imagine interrupting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
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For Lugo, getting a job in the tour’s ensemble meant interrupting their theater studies at New York University.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the indictment, Abrams and two other gang members are accused of robbing a 39-year-old man in Queens on June 19, 2023, 11 days after the attack on Vasquez.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Horgan’s debut feature How to Rob, also an indie crime movie, saw Chinaza Uche (Silo) and Koopman portray a two-man stick-up crew robbing criminals from Boston to Cape Cod.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dip the bottom of each cutting in rooting hormone and shake off any excess rooting powder or gel.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
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Rogers brought the conversation back to Crockett later in the episode, cutting in to clarify his earlier remarks.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20in. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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