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
broke in; broken in; breaking in; breaks in
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
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
Examples of break-in in a Sentence
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
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
There's nothing progressive about car break-ins.
—ABC News, 4 Jan. 2026
Jordan Brackett, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Elsewhere, Gal Gadot enjoys a relaxed New Year break in Costa Rica.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break-in
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The buildings have been vacant for a decade and had been the target of break-ins and drug activity.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
There's nothing progressive about car break-ins.
—ABC News, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
As classes resume tomorrow after winter break, recess remains broken in public schools across New York City.
—Jordan Brackett, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Elsewhere, Gal Gadot enjoys a relaxed New Year break in Costa Rica.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for break-in
Cite this Entry
“Break-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break-in. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share