break-in
noun
an illegal entry into a home, car, office, etc.
break-in
American
[breyk-in]
/ ˈbreɪkˌɪn /
break in
British
verb
-
(sometimes foll by on) to interrupt
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(intr) to enter a house, etc, illegally, esp by force
-
(tr) to accustom (a person or animal) to normal duties or practice
-
(tr) to use or wear (shoes, new equipment, etc) until comfortable or running smoothly
-
(tr) to bring (new land) under cultivation
noun
break in
Idioms
-
Enter by force, as in The thieves broke in through the back door . [Mid-1500s] Also see break into .
-
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]
-
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]
-
Loosen or soften with use, as in It takes a while to break in a pair of new shoes .
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of break-in
First recorded in 1855–60; noun use of verb phrase break in
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The woman alleged that the deputy falsified a break-in report just to visit her home, and he later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges, according to a civil lawsuit and court records.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
The break-in process could take even longer given Warsh’s big divergence with past chiefs.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
David Solomon, a 46-year-old who works in real estate, said he became invested in the mayoral race after break-in attempts at his home in Santa Monica Canyon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
A man accused of nabbing unreleased music by Beyoncé in a vehicle break-in last summer has pleaded guilty to the theft and has been sentenced to serve time in prison.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
I took a deep breath and described Gum Baby’s break-in, the chase through the Bottle Tree forest, and finally our fight.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
See also: How parents can take advantage of the ‘best summer-camp tax break in years’
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
The next day, he aired the first break in the case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Hayes addressed the criticism during a break in the Brazil v Haiti game, however, by wryly encouraging viewers to focus on her match analysis instead.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Burglars tried to break in to the Barcelona home of Spain star Lamine Yamal on Wednesday, shortly after he helped La Roja reach their second World Cup final, police and media said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
But Isabel and Nate were all the way on the other side of the apartment with my parents, taking a coffee break in the kitchen.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper banned the group on advice from the police and security officials after an escalating spate of break-ins targeting Elbit, an Israeli-owned defence firm.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
In Madrid, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo and Dani Carvajal are among the football stars to have suffered break-ins at their homes in recent years.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Brown said the dog was purchased and looked after by his security guards to help protect the house from break-ins, telling the jury: "I get a lot of stalker-type situations."
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
An epidemic of car break-ins led owners to post “No Radio” signs in their windows, and auto alarms blared indignantly at all hours.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
I’m boring you with all my break-ins, but what can I do when burglars take such pleasure in honoring Gies & Co. with their presence?
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
