phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

break in

to enter forcibly

What it means

To enter a building forcibly, usually to steal something. It can also mean to gradually make new shoes, clothes, or equipment more comfortable through use, or to interrupt a conversation.

Examples

  • Someone tried to break in through the back window last night.
  • These boots are uncomfortable; I need to break them in first.
  • Sorry to break in, but there's an urgent call for you on line two.
  • Thieves broke in while the family was on holiday.

Where it comes from

Mostly intransitive when about burglary, separable when about clothing ('break them in'). The noun 'break-in' (hyphenated) refers to a burglary.

Related phrasal verbs

#break out#break down#break up#get in

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