break in
3 meanings
enter a building using force, usually to steal something
What does "break in" mean in this sense?
Examples
- Someone broke in while we were on holiday and took all the jewellery.
- The police think the intruder broke in through a ground-floor window.
- Have you heard? The corner shop has been broken into twice this month.
How to use it
The most common pattern — used without naming the location, or when the location has already been mentioned.
We came home and realised someone had broken in.
Use a prepositional phrase to say how or where the intruder entered — never place the location directly after 'in'.
The thieves broke in through an unlocked back window.
Add when or under what circumstances the break-in happened using a time or situation phrase.
Burglars broke in while the family was away for the weekend.
Use with verbs like 'try', 'manage', or 'attempt' to describe a successful or unsuccessful forced entry.
Someone tried to break in last night, but the alarm scared them off.
The noun form 'a break-in' (always hyphenated) is very common and useful for talking about the event itself.
The manager reported a break-in at the office early this morning.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
You cannot use 'break in' with a location as a direct object. If you want to name the place, use 'break into' instead. 'Break in' is followed by a prepositional phrase (like 'through the window') or nothing at all.
'Break in' means to enter a place by force from outside. 'Break out' means to escape from inside a place. They describe opposite directions of movement.
When used as a noun, it must be written as 'break-in' with a hyphen. Without the hyphen, it looks like you are using the verb in an incomplete sentence.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts, from police reports to everyday conversation. The noun form 'a break-in' (always hyphenated) is equally common and useful to learn alongside the verb.
interrupt a conversation by saying something
Sense 2: What does "break in" mean?
Examples
- 'Sorry to break in,' he said, 'but the meeting has been moved to three o'clock.'
- She broke in suddenly, unable to wait any longer to share the news.
- He didn't want to break in on their discussion, so he waited quietly by the door.
How to use it
The most basic pattern — used alone when the conversational context makes the interruption clear.
Everyone was talking at once, and she finally broke in to make herself heard.
Use 'on' when you want to specify the conversation or group being interrupted.
I'm sorry to break in on your meeting, but there's an urgent call for you.
Use 'with' to indicate what the speaker says or contributes at the moment of interrupting.
He broke in with a question that completely changed the direction of the debate.
Apologetic or softening phrases commonly precede 'break in' to make the interruption sound polite.
I hate to break in, but we only have five minutes left before the session ends.
An adverb of manner is often used — especially in narrative writing — to describe how the interruption happens.
She broke in excitedly before he had even finished his sentence.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Break in' has other common meanings — including entering a building by force — so context matters. In this sense, 'break in' always relates to speech and conversation, never to physical locations or objects.
In this sense, 'break in' is intransitive — it never takes a direct object. If you want to mention what was interrupted, use the preposition 'on': 'break in on something'.
'Break in' is more neutral than 'butt in', which strongly implies rudeness. 'Break in' can describe a perfectly polite interruption, especially when paired with 'sorry to' or 'I just wanted to'.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and slightly more polite-sounding than 'butt in' or 'cut in', so it is often used with apologetic phrases like 'Sorry to break in'. It is common in both spoken English and written narrative dialogue.
use something new until it becomes comfortable or works well
Sense 3: What does "break sth in" mean?
Examples
- These new hiking boots are really stiff — I need to break them in before the long trail.
- She's been breaking in her new leather shoes all week and finally they feel comfortable.
- Don't worry, those boots are fully broken in now and shouldn't cause any more blisters.
How to use it
The most straightforward pattern, used with a noun phrase object, especially when the noun phrase is longer.
I need a few weeks to break in my new leather hiking boots before the trip.
Separation is very common, especially with short noun phrases — the object sits between the verb and particle.
These shoes are stiff at first, but you'll break them in pretty quickly.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and particle — placing it after 'in' is ungrammatical.
My new skates felt tight, so I started wearing them every day to break them in.
The passive is natural and frequently used to describe the state of an item after the process is complete.
These gloves are fully broken in now and fit perfectly.
This phrasal verb often appears after modal-like expressions that suggest effort or necessity.
You'll have to break in any new pair of work boots gradually to avoid blisters.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When using a pronoun as the object, it must go between 'break' and 'in', not after 'in'. Placing the pronoun after the particle is ungrammatical.
'Break into' means to enter a place by force and never refers to softening equipment. 'Break in' is the correct form for making footwear or gear comfortable — 'break into' cannot be used in this sense.
In this sense, the object of 'break in' must be a wearable, inanimate item like shoes or gloves. Using a person or animal as the object shifts the meaning entirely — it then means to train someone or something.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. In British English, 'wear in' is a common alternative, but 'break in' is understood everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'break in' be used in the passive, like 'the house was broken in'?
Not exactly. Because 'break in' is intransitive in this sense, you cannot form a simple passive with it. However, you can say 'the house was broken into' — this uses the related transitive phrasal verb 'break into', and it is very natural and common.
Does 'break in' always mean forced entry? I've heard it used in other ways.
No, 'break in' has other meanings. It can mean to interrupt someone who is speaking, or to train something new like shoes or a horse. Context always makes it clear which meaning is intended — if there's a burglar or a building involved, it's the forced-entry sense.
What's the difference between 'break in' and 'break into'?
Both describe the same action, but they work differently in a sentence. Use 'break into' when you name the place directly after the verb ('they broke into the warehouse'). Use 'break in' when no place follows, or when the location is given in a prepositional phrase ('they broke in through the skylight').
Is 'break in' only used for houses, or can it describe other places?
It can describe any building or enclosed space — homes, shops, offices, schools, warehouses, and even vehicles like cars. The key idea is that someone enters by force without permission, regardless of what kind of place it is.
Does 'break in' always mean the interruption is rude?
No — 'break in' is neutral and covers both polite and abrupt interruptions. It is very commonly used with apologetic phrases like 'Sorry to break in' or 'If I can just break in here', which makes it sound quite considerate. If you want to emphasise that the interruption was unwelcome or impolite, 'butt in' is the stronger choice.
Can 'break in' be used in the passive, like 'the conversation was broken in on'?
This is not a natural construction in English. Because 'break in' in this sense is intransitive, it cannot be passivised in any straightforward way. It is always the person who breaks in — the conversation or speaker cannot be made the subject of a passive sentence.
Is 'break in' used mainly in spoken English, or in writing too?
It works well in both. In spoken English, it describes live interruptions in conversation. In writing, it often appears as a dialogue tag — for example, 'She broke in sharply' — or in journalistic contexts where a presenter or reporter interrupts a broadcast discussion. It is a versatile choice across spoken and written contexts.
Can I say 'I will be breaking in' if I plan to interrupt at a specific moment?
This sounds unnatural because interrupting is typically spontaneous rather than something planned in advance. It is more natural to use the infinitive in these situations: for example, 'I may need to break in if the discussion runs over time'. The future continuous form implies a level of scheduling that does not fit well with the idea of an interruption.
What is the difference between 'break in' and 'chip in' when talking about conversations?
'Chip in' focuses on adding a useful contribution or comment to a discussion — the emphasis is on what you are adding. 'Break in' emphasises the act of interrupting speech that is already in progress — the emphasis is on cutting into the flow. You might chip in with a helpful idea without really interrupting anyone, but when you break in, someone else was speaking first.
Does 'break in' always refer to shoes and boots?
It's most commonly used with footwear — boots, shoes, skates — but it also applies naturally to other gear that moulds to your body over time, such as gloves or a baseball glove. The key idea is a stiff or new item becoming comfortable through use.
Is 'broken in' used as an adjective? It seems to appear a lot.
Yes, 'broken in' is very commonly used as an adjective to describe an item that has already gone through the process and is now comfortable. You'll hear expressions like 'a well broken-in pair of boots' or 'these shoes are finally broken in' very frequently in everyday English.
Is there a difference between 'break in' and 'wear in'?
'Wear in' is a British English alternative with the same meaning — to make footwear comfortable through use. 'Break in' is used in both British and American English, so it's the safer choice if you're not sure which variety of English your audience uses.
Can 'break in' have other meanings?
Yes — the same form is used to mean entering a building by force or interrupting a conversation, but those are completely different senses handled elsewhere on this page. The key to this sense is always a wearable, inanimate object like boots or skates.
Is it natural to say 'I am breaking in my shoes right now'?
Yes, the present continuous works well here because breaking in footwear is an ongoing process that happens over a period of time. Saying 'I've been breaking in my new shoes all week' with the present perfect continuous is also very natural and common.
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