break-in
1 of 2noun
ˈbrāk-ˌin 
1
: the act or action of breaking in
a rash of break-ins at the new apartment house
2
: a performance or a series of performances serving as a trial run
3
: an initial period of operation during which working parts begin to function efficiently
break in
2 of 2verb
broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in
intransitive verb
1
: to enter something (such as a building or computer system) without consent or by force
2
a
: intrude
break in upon his privacy
b
: to interrupt a conversation
3
: to start in an activity or enterprise
breaking in as a cub reporter
transitive verb
1
: to accustom to a certain activity or occurrence
break in the new clerk
2
: to overcome the stiffness or newness of
break in a pair of shoes
Synonyms
Verb
- burglarize
- burgle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb the burglars broke in by smashing a window he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met
Recent Examples on the Web
Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 4 Aug. 2022 Then there’s a little dropoff to the next six to eight players, and another small break in the early 20s down through the late first round. Kyle Woodlief, USA TODAY, 5 July 2022 Away from the decency of knives and forks, this break in normalcy, this ritualistic mess, is what levels us. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 13 May 2022 Serena found better success in the second set behind her serve, but Bencic finally got the break in the 3-3 game when Williams hit a double-fault on break point. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Under the sweltering heat, Matthew Carr spent his lunch break in a fountain in downtown Portland, Oregon. Claire Rush, Anchorage Daily News, 26 July 2022 He was hurt on the final day of play before the All-Star break in a game Boston lost 13-2. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 18 July 2022 Fritz went up a break in the second game of the opening set against fellow baseliner Rublev, converting his third break point chance when Rublev sent a forehand long. Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2022 With gusty winds swirling around Stadium Court, Halep went up a break in the third game of the first set and held her own serve to finish out the set. Andrew L. John, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2022 See More
Verb
Veteran Dallas Gamble and redshirt freshman Jason Brooks will also look to break in the rotation, with freshman Ricky Fletcher joining the mix after having arrived over the summer. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 4 Aug. 2022 Then there’s a little dropoff to the next six to eight players, and another small break in the early 20s down through the late first round. Kyle Woodlief, USA TODAY, 5 July 2022 Away from the decency of knives and forks, this break in normalcy, this ritualistic mess, is what levels us. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 13 May 2022 Serena found better success in the second set behind her serve, but Bencic finally got the break in the 3-3 game when Williams hit a double-fault on break point. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Under the sweltering heat, Matthew Carr spent his lunch break in a fountain in downtown Portland, Oregon. Claire Rush, Anchorage Daily News, 26 July 2022 He was hurt on the final day of play before the All-Star break in a game Boston lost 13-2. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 18 July 2022 Fritz went up a break in the second game of the opening set against fellow baseliner Rublev, converting his third break point chance when Rublev sent a forehand long. Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2022 With gusty winds swirling around Stadium Court, Halep went up a break in the third game of the first set and held her own serve to finish out the set. Andrew L. John, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1535, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Legal Definition
break-in 1 of 2
noun
ˈbrāk-ˌin
: the act or action of breaking in
break in
2 of 2intransitive verb
: to enter something (as a building or computer system) without privilege (as consent) or by force
break-ins
noun
as in burglaries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- burglaries
- muggings
- holdups
- stickups
- thefts
- heists
- grabs
- rip-offs
- pinches