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Synonyms

breaking and entering

American

noun

Criminal Law.

forcible entry into the home or office of another.

breaking and entering British

noun

(formerly) the gaining of unauthorized access to a building with intent to commit a crime or, having committed the crime, the breaking out of the building

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of breaking and entering

First recorded in 1790–1800

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:

breaking and entering

Now, after breaking and entering the dwarfs’ home, Zegler doesn’t spend this iteration of “Whistle While You Work” tidying up with birds, squirrels and bunnies — she makes the men scrub their own damned floors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025

Squatting is legal is Australia, but laws prohibiting breaking and entering or trespass - remaining on private property when instructed to leave - still apply.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2024

Mr. Otieno was taken into custody on March 3 by Henrico County police, who were responding to a report of breaking and entering from a neighbor.

From New York Times ● Mar. 23, 2023

Doubling of concepts is also common: null and void, breaking and entering, pain and suffering, legal and binding.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021

By some means known only to her, Angelina had heard that a man had been arrested in Portsmouth for breaking and entering a little shop.

From Brenda's Ward A Sequel to 'Amy in Acadia' by Helen Leah Reed

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023