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• break-in
  break-in

  noun

  an illegal entry into a home, car, office, etc.
• break in
  break in

  verb

  (sometimes foll by on) to interrupt

break-in

American  

[breyk-in] / ˈbreɪkˌɪn /

noun

• break-ins
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• break-ins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of break-in

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

break-in break in break-ins

Kerstetter further testified that Walters’ phone had pinged in Comanche only one other time during the preceding 11 months, about two weeks before the break-in.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Prosecutors told the court Middlebrough had helped to plan and organise the August 2024 break-in at Elbit Systems in Bristol, a British defence firm with an Israeli parent company.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

With break-in season officially over, the ranger station at Mineral King posted a sign advising visitors they no longer needed to tarp and asking them not to borrow any more from their stash.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

The break-in process could take even longer given Warsh’s big divergence with past chiefs.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

All seven faced long prison sentences—but only for the Watergate break-in.

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

But in old Dubai, where Iranian merchants are firmly established, they do not believe there will be a break in the ties forged over decades between the UAE's financial hub and southern Iran.

From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026

It’s still summer break in the U.S., so regular classes at the majority of schools and colleges are not in session yet, and those that are tend to observe the federal holiday.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

Kushner got his big break in 2010 while still studying for his MBA.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

While the estate's network of tracks functioned as a fire break in some locations, in other areas strong winds helped high flames jump the gap.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Students are speaking around Kalinda loudly, buzzing with anticipation, and whenever there’s a break in the noise, I can tell even from where I stand, it’s because Kalinda is speaking.

From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender

The house had been empty for some time and a number of break-ins eventually led to the downstairs windows being boarded up, which had not helped the atmosphere, Way said.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Homeless encampments, piles of trash, vermin, and car break-ins have bedeviled the 4000 block of Babcock Avenue in Studio City since the property was abandoned, said neighbor Clint Ledsworth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 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

During a predawn breakfast of liver pate and fig cookies, we gather around Tigris’s television for one of Beetee’s break-ins.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• burglary
• robbery