broke in

past tense of break in
1
as in invaded
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 interrupted
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

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 broke in Francisco said no one was inside the cabin when the bear broke in. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026 And when the news first broke in Semafor last month that Paramount was seriously considering a move out of state, industry observers dismissed the threat as corporate saber rattling. Chris Lee, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 The Herald had reached out to Bronske when the story broke in May, but has not heard back. Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 News of the separation broke in September, with Kidman filing for divorce by month’s end and the pair reportedly planning on co-parenting classes and submitting a child support worksheet. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026 And there were times, after the story broke in 2005, that some people on the island would see him and cross the street just to avoid acknowledging him. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026 News of the Baywatch reboot broke in 2023, and the project subsequently landed at Fox. Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026 The scandal first broke in 2022 when a former head of South Africa's state security agency walked into a police station, revealed the theft and accused Ramaphosa of money laundering and other offenses. ABC News, 26 May 2026 One person was arrested after Foxboro, Massachusetts school officials say two dozen high-school aged people threw toilet paper all over the front of the school, and another eight broke in. Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke in
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
  • Harald was just three years old when German troops invaded Norway forcing his family, along with members of the Norwegian government, to flee to neighboring Sweden.
    James Frater, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Dolphins interrupted those plans and now will get a look at a quarterback prospect with a strong arm, decent size (6-2), toughness and instinctiveness as a runner.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, data centers may have to wait years for full service or accept provisional connections under which their electricity can be interrupted when the grid is strained.
    Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In October 2025, jewelry worth $102 million was robbed from the Louvre in Paris.
    News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Broke in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20in. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster