How to Use break-in in a Sentence

break-in

1 of 2 noun
Definition of break-innext
Synonyms for break-innext
  • The more leather in your boot, the longer the break-in period.
    — Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 22 Mar. 2023
  • Reeves’ home was also the scene of back-to-back break-ins in 2014.
    — Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2023
  • The break-in occurred in a guest house next to the couple’s main home, the sources said.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024
  • But this break-in was a bust, cops said, saying the crew fled the scene in the getaway car.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024
  • In the statement, the victim wrote that one of her young children was home at the time of the break-in.
    — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2023
  • No one was home at the time of the break-in, according to the Detroit Free Press.
    — Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 12 May 2023
  • That said, the shoes do run true to size even with the longer break-in period.
    — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2023
  • The fire station door was boarded up after the break-in.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024
  • Watch Cavallari tell the full break-in story above, at around the 24-minute mark.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Plus, these are comfortable right out of the box and require no break-in time.
    — Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2023
  • The shoes were comfortable and required no break-in time.
    — Avery Stone, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024
  • Police said on Thursday that have not made any arrests in the break-ins.
    — Olivia Diaz, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
  • What was stole and the value of loss resulting from the break-in was not clear Tuesday.
    — Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2024
  • The majority of the break-ins occurred near the 1200 block of Ebener Street.
    — Jordan Parker, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2023
  • However, latex can be too firm for some and can take a few weeks to break-in.
    — Jack Byram, Health, 20 Apr. 2023
  • The burglary took place in 2021 and he was convicted for the break-in three months after the Brooklyn hit-and-run.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 29 Nov. 2024
  • Then there’s a break-in, and everyone assumes they’ve been stolen.
    — Michael Gorra, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2023
  • In the two most recent cases, the victims were home during the break-ins, Sharki said.
    — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2023
  • The burglary call was the third break-in that morning at the business on the 400 block of Embarcadero, near 5th Avenue.
    — Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
  • Guests are expected to park on the street (where there are plenty of spots but issues with break-ins).
    — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
  • These were comfortable right out of the box with no break-in period.
    — Barbara Bellesi Zito, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024
  • The faux leather looks genuine and feels buttery soft, and the shoes had zero break-in period.
    — Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024
  • The answer, if anybody is curious, is the small cadre of Cubans arrested in the break-in.
    — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Apr. 2023
  • The May incident in May was not the first time the resident encountered a bear break-in.
    — Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 28 June 2024
  • Between the financial loss and a home break-in the same year, Patel said her world collapsed around her for a time.
    — Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2024
  • Ton just met with the Denver Police Department about a break-in last month.
    — Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 21 May 2024
  • The suspect, 41-year-old Saul Bal, is accused of attempting the break-in, police said.
    — Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2024
  • What to Consider There’s a break-in period while the arch supports mold to your feet.
    — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2024
  • The boots are roomy enough to add custom insoles and don’t require a break-in period thanks to the leather and mesh uppers.
    — Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 1 Sep. 2023
  • Hiking shoes are lighter weight, don’t take much time to break-in, are easy to pack, comfortable, and dry quickly.
    — Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
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break in

2 of 2 verb
  • At some point along the way, the giant broke in two at the knees.
    — Daniel T. Ksepka, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023
  • Thursday will bring a break in rain and highs in the 70s.
    — Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • During a break in the game, William and Kate stood up to chat with the teen.
    — Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022
  • Jethro Tull’s Stand Up breaks in at No. 68 on that list.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024
  • With all of that in mind, a restful break in Japan might be just what the rest of the world needs.
    — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2022
  • One of them is seen in the footage, running up to a guard post and breaking in.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2023
  • Look on the north side at the break in the anodized detailing.
    — Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2024
  • Choi said the suspect jumped over a fence and broke in through the back of the residence.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
  • Someone soon kicked their garage door down to break in.
    — Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 May 2022
  • So that means that a protest is not the time to try out a new pair of pants or break in a new set of shoes.
    — Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 27 June 2022
  • But there was one clue that would give police their first big break in the case.
    — CBS News, 23 Apr. 2022
  • Since then, the years have ticked by for Emken’s family with no break in the case.
    — Spencer Norris, Sun Sentinel, 4 Sep. 2022
  • Aram and Park break in to save him with Aram pushing the woman off him.
    — Laura Sirikul, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2022
  • Then a rain delay came, but a break in the weather gave Hays one more chance.
    — Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2022
  • The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through a break in the skin.
    — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2022
  • The petition states that Gonzalez broke in through the back door of the house.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 May 2024
  • What to Consider The leather outer will take a few wears to break in.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2023
  • Keep in mind: Mats need to be broken in and get better with use.
    — Good Housekeeping, 28 Mar. 2023
  • Witnesses told said the suspect broke in, stole the forklift and rammed through the gates.
    — Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 2 July 2023
  • Models' feet got a break in the flip-flops Kors sent down the runway.
    — Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022
  • But the dam breaks in the third episode and the rest of the series suffers from a serious case of biopic-itis.
    — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024
  • When everything looks grim, the slightest break in the clouds looks like a new day.
    — James MacKintosh, WSJ, 31 July 2022
  • With a slight break in the last week or two, the wildfires in the region have started to pick up again, White said.
    — Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 17 June 2022
  • News of the pair’s romance broke in summer 2021 when they were filmed making out in a car.
    — Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 24 Mar. 2023
  • Some symptoms of the disease might include a lump in the arm, leg, chest or pelvis, or a break in a bone.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024
  • Also, the new wall will be staggered, with breaks in places to allow access to the beach.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
  • 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
  • What to Consider: These take a little longer to break in and can feel pinched at the toe at first.
    — Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2024
  • Three workers inspecting the wharf fell into the choppy ocean waves as the end of the wharf broke in two.
    — Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The footbed offers a cozy feel, and the thick platform offers a supportive fit that doesn’t require breaking in.
    — Neha Tandon, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'break-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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