break-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌin 

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

break in

2 of 2

verb

broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

Verb

• burglarize
• burgle

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

Noun

Buildings on the campus have been boarded up, including the former administration building that burned Monday, and there has been a history of break-ins and fires on campus, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said at the scene. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024

On Monday night, Phoenix police fatally shot a home break-in suspect around 10 p.m. in the area of 15th and Wier avenues. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Instead of waiting at home to fully recover, Master said, students should return to school with extra support from teachers and breaks in their schedule to relieve symptoms such as headaches or fatigue, with a goal of gradually doing more. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Hip Fractures Hip fractures are breaks in the upper femur (thigh bone). —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1535, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

break-in

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrā-ˌkin

: an act or instance of breaking in

break in

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)brā-ˈkin

1

: to enter a house or building by force

2

a

: to make used to an activity

breaking in a new employee

b

: to overcome the newness or stiffness of

breaking in a new pair of shoes

Legal Definition

break-in

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrāk-ˌin

: the act or action of breaking in

break in

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to enter something (as a building or computer system) without privilege (as consent) or by force