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
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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
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Recent Examples of broke in
Selected by Chicago in the third round of the 1980 draft, the center broke in with the Blackhawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—
Dylan Olsen, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Off a bad change by the B’s, Timo Meier broke in alone but Korpisalo thwarted his first shot and just managed to get his pad down to smother Meier’s follow-up.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The center broke in with the Hawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
News broke in June 2025 that Allman was taken to a hospital in San Bernardino County for demonstrating erratic behavior after authorities received a disturbance call.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Given the behind the scenes drama that has enveloped CBS News since Ellison took over Paramount Skydance, the mood was grim at CNN after the news broke in real time Thursday.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
News broke in August that a portable shelter owned by the schools was gifted to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to be used at the Alligator Alcatraz detention camp.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
News of Christopher’s pending arrival broke in June, when People published photos of Grammer and Walsh, who appeared heavily pregnant at the time.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, when four men, dressed as workmen, broke in through an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
Dylan Olsen, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Off a bad change by the B’s, Timo Meier broke in alone but Korpisalo thwarted his first shot and just managed to get his pad down to smother Meier’s follow-up.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The center broke in with the Hawks by playing one game as a 19-year-old during the 1981-82 season.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
News broke in June 2025 that Allman was taken to a hospital in San Bernardino County for demonstrating erratic behavior after authorities received a disturbance call.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Given the behind the scenes drama that has enveloped CBS News since Ellison took over Paramount Skydance, the mood was grim at CNN after the news broke in real time Thursday.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
News broke in August that a portable shelter owned by the schools was gifted to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to be used at the Alligator Alcatraz detention camp.
—Thomas Kennedy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
News of Christopher’s pending arrival broke in June, when People published photos of Grammer and Walsh, who appeared heavily pregnant at the time.
—Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, when four men, dressed as workmen, broke in through an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke in
Verb
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Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, topped more than $100 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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That operation began on October 29, 1956, when Israel invaded the Sinai Peninsula and rapidly overwhelmed Egyptian forces.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Arulampalam’s announcement also comes the same week his state of the city address was interrupted by protestors demanding the firing of Magnano and the officer who fatally shot 53-year-old Everard Walker, who was killed during a mental health call just eight days before Jones was shot.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
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What is the most navy blue system that has interrupted with your own life recently?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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We were robbed of an incredible human.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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The 21-year-old McGonigle, who was robbed of his first home run by center fielder Jackson Merrill in the second, worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Wandy Peralta in a lefty-on-lefty matchup that culminated with a single to right field that brought in Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith for a 4-2 lead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There's no numbered ticketing system, so keep track of your place in line or a regular will cut in front of you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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As director Bill Benz noted in our profile of Chris Fleming, Live at the Palace feels like a wildlife documentary, where the cameras move, zoom, and cut in hopes of capturing this majestic creature in its element.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Broke in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20in. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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