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
Patrick Marley, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Instead, those neighborhoods might be seeing car break-ins or home invasions.
—Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
Matias Grez, CNN, 26 June 2024
How to spot a rip current Rip currents typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and can occur at any beach with breaking waves, according to the NOAA.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in 
Noun
The Watergate scandal began with a break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and expanded to include a host of clandestine and illicit activities in which the Nixon administration and campaign played a part, resulting in dozens of convictions of Nixon aides and associates.
—Patrick Marley, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
Instead, those neighborhoods might be seeing car break-ins or home invasions.
—Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024
Verb
After a long wait for a break in play – that only came when Mamardashvili sensationally tipped Diogo Dalot’s long-range strike behind for a corner – VAR ruled that Otar Kiteishvili had been fouled inside the penalty area in an earlier passage of play.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 26 June 2024
How to spot a rip current Rip currents typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and can occur at any beach with breaking waves, according to the NOAA.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for break-in
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 7 Jul. 2024.
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