broke in

past tense of break in
1
as in invaded
to enter a house or building by force usually with illegal intent the burglars broke in by smashing a window

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in interrupted
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion he rudely broke in to drop the names of several celebrities that he had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of broke in Warren Foegele broke in and made a cross-ice pass to Greig, who beat Varlamov high on the stick side. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 That man then drove into the school’s parking lot as the suspect was walking along the south side of the school and broke in. — Irene Byon, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 People broke in after the fire and stole TVs and important papers, Hurlet said. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 Police responded March 29 to a burglar alarm at Avenue Flower Shop and Wine Bar, finding several people similarly broke in with sledge hammers. — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Logan Federico, a North Carolina college student, was staying with friends at a South Carolina home on May 3, 2025, when Dickey allegedly broke in. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 News about the project, which Boden and Fleck adapted, broke in May 2025. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026 The news broke in early January 2024, after photos surfaced of Miller on a stroll with her infant and Green. — Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Sacramento State is in its first year in the FBS and was a late addition to the MAC — news broke in February, and the Hornets officially joined the league in July — so first-year coach Alonzo Carter is in a tough spot. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke in
Verb
  • In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, and Western banks pulled back on lending to Russians.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Romania first shot down drones this year, marking its first such action since Moscow invaded neighboring Ukraine.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But eventually those thoughts were interrupted by a distant grunt.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • He was constantly interrupted by phone calls, the glare of television lights and accepted his good wishes of his friends across the country.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But by and large, audiences were exposed to the horrors of a woman robbed of control over her own mind and body.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The victim told deputies that two men threatened the victim with a firearm, robbed the victim and fled.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The agency also reported that the number of parking tickets issued increased slightly, rising from 455 to 457 per month despite enforcement days being cut in half.
    — Allen Devlin, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In 2023, a cut in the protective netting around an enclosure in the Central Park Zoo allowed a Eurasian eagle-owl to escape into the park.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broke in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke%20in. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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