break into

verb

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

2. to change abruptly from a slower to a faster speed

   the horse broke into a gallop

3. to consume (supplies held in reserve)

   at the end of the exercise the soldiers had to break into their iron rations

Idioms and Phrases

Make a forcible entry into, as in The alarm went off as soon as they tried to break into the house . [1300s] Also see break in , def. 1.

Interrupt, as in I couldn't help but break into your conversation . [Mid-1600s]

Suddenly begin some activity, as in Without warning she broke into tears . Also see under burst into .

Enter or be admitted to an occupation or profession, as in Without connections it is virtually impossible to break into acting . [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

County employee has been charged with felony hate crimes after allegedly breaking into the county’s headquarters three times in the last two weeks and placing death threats on the desk of his Asian co-worker.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That allowed the team to go undetected as they prepared to break into the palace.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One night in 2019, thieves wielding sledgehammers broke into Blenheim, ripped out the toilet and fled with it, causing flooding issues at the 18th-century home.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Six people armed with military-grade weapons used explosives to break into a gold refining laboratory in Lyon, slightly injuring five employees in the latest high-profile daytime heist to hit France.

Read more on Barron's

You’ve been performing since you were a kid, you left home to study music and broke into the industry by writing for other artists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bereave 
• cheat 
• defraud 
• divest 
• hijack 
• loot 
• lose 
• mug 
• plunder 
• raid 
• ransack 
• strip