break into
Britishverb
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to enter (a house, etc) illegally, esp by force
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to change abruptly from a slower to a faster speed
the horse broke into a gallop
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to consume (supplies held in reserve)
at the end of the exercise the soldiers had to break into their iron rations
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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.
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Interrupt, as in I couldn't help but break into your conversation . [Mid-1600s]
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Suddenly begin some activity, as in Without warning she broke into tears . Also see under burst into .
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to its founder, Claire Malcolm, added stresses such as the cost-of-living crisis are making things "more difficult" for people trying to break into the industry.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
Upon his release from Ohio State Penitentiary in 1967, Coe headed to Nashville and attempted to break into the country music scene.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
A man arrested trying to break into the Israeli embassy in London, armed with two knives, put his "life on the line" trying to get to the UK, a jury has heard.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
For businesses like Starlink and Amazon that are seeking to break into the telecom market, they are less expensive than building a terrestrial network from scratch.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
We break into our groups and head upstairs and into a bedroom.
From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
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.
