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 The upper floors of the building sat for decades vacant except for squatters who periodically broke in. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke in
Verb
  • If lots of leaves on the plant are yellowing all at once, your monstera may have been invaded by pests.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Israel’s military invaded Gaza after Hamas’s attacks in October 2023, and more than 60,000 people have died in the region, according to the local health ministry.
    Leon Imber, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Shortly after midnight, the burners remember, their serenity was interrupted by a group of law enforcement officers who entered the camp to ask questions.
    Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
  • However, their usual matchday walk was interrupted by fans, forcing England to return to their Zurich base at the Dolder Grand hotel.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Two more banks in the Central District were allegedly robbed similarly that same day.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Two other banks also in downtown San Francisco were robbed the same day in the same fashion, police said.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Bengals also worked out former Cleveland Browns signal-caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason but was among the team's cuts in August.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In 2024, the Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates three times — a half-point cut last September, a quarter point cut in November, and a quarter-point cut in December.
    Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Broke in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20in. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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