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
Not a week goes by without news of a high-profile auction breaking in Publishers Weekly.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Other teams breaking in transfer quarterbacks are Illinois (Katin Houser, East Carolina), Nebraska (Anthony Colandrea, UNLV), Northwestern (Aidan Chiles, Michigan State), Penn State (Rocco Becht, Iowa State) and Wisconsin (Colton Joseph, Old Dominion).
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The building had kept deteriorating over the course of time, with people continually breaking in, Olson said.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
If the matter-antimatter asymmetry arose due to a breaking of a certain cosmic symmetry at a higher energy, then restoring the symmetry could lead to that symmetry re-breaking in a different fashion.
—Big Think, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Other teams breaking in transfer quarterbacks are Illinois (Katin Houser, East Carolina), Nebraska (Anthony Colandrea, UNLV), Northwestern (Aidan Chiles, Michigan State), Penn State (Rocco Becht, Iowa State) and Wisconsin (Colton Joseph, Old Dominion).
—Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The building had kept deteriorating over the course of time, with people continually breaking in, Olson said.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
If the matter-antimatter asymmetry arose due to a breaking of a certain cosmic symmetry at a higher energy, then restoring the symmetry could lead to that symmetry re-breaking in a different fashion.
—Big Think, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breaking in
Verb
-
Gellner said removing the items would reduce the snake's chances of invading her premises.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
-
Ants are invading homes this spring.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition to his eye for period-appropriate costumes and production design, Rosenberg has a deft ear for dialogue that flows in the way people actually talk, in varying, interrupting rhythms.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Gaff was charged with raping, robbing and murdering Weaver, according to court documents.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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Warnock says Republicans 'robbing' Georgians of their voice Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock has been vocal about the Louisiana decision in the weeks since, and has long made voting rights and protections a key part of his platform.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
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People were complaining about people cutting in lines, but are people blaming Walmart for the line outside at a Black Friday sale?—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness, giving the juices time to redistribute before cutting in.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breaking in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breaking%20in. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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