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
Sara Ruberg, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2024
But this break-in was a bust, cops said, saying the crew fled the scene in the getaway car.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
From the producers of John Wick, which should surprise no one, Violent Night stars David Harbour as a particularly murderous Santa Claus defending an estate against a team of thieving mercenaries who break in, take the family hostage, and slay the house staff on Christmas Eve.
—Brooke Knisley, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in 
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.
Noun
Jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was taken from the Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley Jr. on Sept. 15 during an afternoon break-in at his home, according to Chief Jason Nelson of the Medina Police Department.
—Sara Ruberg, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2024
But this break-in was a bust, cops said, saying the crew fled the scene in the getaway car.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
Kitchen Moving Boxes $55 at Amazon Moving delicate glassware is tedious, so Ayoub recommends stocking up on dedicated kitchen moving boxes to keep your fragile items from breaking in transit.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
From the producers of John Wick, which should surprise no one, Violent Night stars David Harbour as a particularly murderous Santa Claus defending an estate against a team of thieving mercenaries who break in, take the family hostage, and slay the house staff on Christmas Eve.
—Brooke Knisley, Vulture, 6 Dec. 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 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share