1
: the act or action of breaking in
a rash of break-ins at the new apartment house
2
: a performance or a series of performances serving as a trial run
3
: an initial period of operation during which working parts begin to function efficiently
broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in
1
: to enter something (such as a building or computer system) without consent or by force
2
a
: intrude
break in upon his privacy
b
: to interrupt a conversation
3
: to start in an activity or enterprise
breaking in as a cub reporter
1
: to accustom to a certain activity or occurrence
break in the new clerk
2
: to overcome the stiffness or newness of
break in a pair of shoes
Synonyms
Examples of break-in in a Sentence
Verb
the burglars broke in by smashing a window
he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met
Recent Examples on the Web
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Patrick Mahomes Calls Burglary at His Kansas City-Area Home 'Frustrating' and 'Disappointing'
At 7:33 p.m. on Oct. 7 as the Chiefs were playing the New Orleans Saints, a break-in occurred at Kelce's home, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 18 Nov. 2024
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2024
Thursday will bring a break in rain and highs in the 70s.
—Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in 
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Noun
Authorities believe the burglary of Portis and Conley’s homes could possibly be connected due to similarities in the two break-ins, despite occurring in neighboring states.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Patrick Mahomes Calls Burglary at His Kansas City-Area Home 'Frustrating' and 'Disappointing'
At 7:33 p.m. on Oct. 7 as the Chiefs were playing the New Orleans Saints, a break-in occurred at Kelce's home, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 18 Nov. 2024
Verb
Here’s all the records that Wicked broke in its opening weekend:
Biggest Global and Domestic Opening for a Movie Based on a Broadway Show, beating the worldwide opening of 2012’s Les Miserables ($103M) and the domestic opening of Disney’s 2014 Into the Woods ($31M).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2024
Thursday will bring a break in rain and highs in the 70s.
—Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in
Dictionary Entries Near break-in
Cite this Entry
“Break-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break-in. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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