break-in

American  

[breyk-in] / ˈbreɪkˌɪn /

noun

1. an illegal entry into a home, car, office, etc.

2. break-in period.

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break in British  

verb

1. (sometimes foll by on) to interrupt

2. (intr) to enter a house, etc, illegally, esp by force

3. (tr) to accustom (a person or animal) to normal duties or practice

4. (tr) to use or wear (shoes, new equipment, etc) until comfortable or running smoothly

5. (tr) to bring (new land) under cultivation

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noun

1. 1. the illegal entering of a building, esp by thieves

   2. ( as modifier )

      the break-in plans

break in Idioms  

1. Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door . [Mid-1500s] Also see break into .

2. Also, break in on . Interrupt or disturb something unexpectedly, as in His assistant broke in with the bad news just as we were ready to sign the agreement , or He broke in on our private talks . [Mid-1600s]

3. Train or instruct someone in a new job or enterprise, as in Every semester she had to break in a new teaching assistant . [Late 1700s]

4. Loosen or soften with use, as in It takes a while to break in a pair of new shoes .

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Etymology

Origin of break-in

First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase break in

Example Sentences

A source close to Combs told The Times that this was the second recent break-in attempt at the property.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Vivien Leigh’s Oscar for “A Streetcar Named Desire” was stolen during a break-in in the 1950s.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

Alexander Butterfield, the former White House aide who revealed the existence of damaging recordings related to the break-in at the Watergate hotel in Washington DC, died aged 99 on Monday, according to his wife.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Its findings are due out in May, but a preliminary report released last week spoke of "systemic failures" which enabled the break-in.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

Dean, who had helped organize the cover-up, described the Plumbers and the Ellsberg break-in.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• burglary
• robbery