break into
2 meanings
start a successful career in a new profession or market
What does "break into" mean in this sense?
Examples
- She spent years waitressing before she finally broke into the acting world.
- It's extremely difficult to break into the fashion industry without the right contacts.
- The company is trying to break into new markets in Southeast Asia.
How to use it
The most common pattern — a person, company, or product enters a competitive field or market. The object always follows 'into' and is never separated.
After years of rejection, he finally broke into the music industry.
Often used with verbs like 'try', 'struggle', or 'hope' to emphasise the ongoing challenge of gaining entry.
She's been trying to break into the fashion world since she graduated.
Modifiers such as 'new', 'competitive', or 'lucrative' are frequently added to the noun to highlight the nature of the market being entered.
The startup is hoping to break into an extremely competitive tech sector.
A pronoun can replace the object when the industry or market has already been mentioned clearly in context.
The publishing world is notoriously hard, but she managed to break into it in her late thirties.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
This phrasal verb is inseparable — the object must always come after 'into'. You cannot place anything between 'break' and 'into'.
'Break into' strongly implies difficulty and effort. Using it for a straightforward or routine entry sounds unnatural — choose 'get into' or 'enter' for situations where there is no real struggle.
The word 'break into' has other meanings depending on its object. When the object is an industry, market, or profession, it means successful entry. When the object is a building or vehicle, it means forced entry (burglary). Always check the object type to confirm which sense is intended.
Usage
This phrasal verb always suggests that entry is difficult or competitive — don't use it for easy situations. It is neutral in register and works equally well in conversation and formal writing.
suddenly start doing something (laughing, running, singing)
Sense 2: What does "break into sth" mean?
Examples
- The crowd broke into applause as the president walked onto the stage.
- She suddenly broke into a run when she realised she was late.
- Halfway through the speech, the senator broke into a broad smile.
How to use it
The core pattern — the subject suddenly begins a behaviour, emotion, or movement that follows naturally from the situation.
When the band came on stage, the entire audience broke into applause.
Movement nouns like 'run', 'sprint', and 'trot' require an indefinite article.
Realising the bus was pulling away, he broke into a sprint down the street.
Abstract or uncountable nouns like 'laughter', 'song', and 'applause' are used without an article.
The children broke into laughter when the clown tripped over his own feet.
Adverbs like 'suddenly' and 'spontaneously' are common companions and reinforce the unplanned nature of the action.
Without any warning, the whole room suddenly broke into song.
This phrasal verb can follow modal or catenative verbs when describing tendencies or gradual shifts.
She tends to break into a wide grin whenever someone mentions her dog.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
This phrasal verb is inseparable — the object must always come after the full phrase 'break into'. You can never place the object between 'break' and 'into'.
When the object is a movement noun such as 'run', 'sprint', or 'trot', you need the indefinite article 'a'. With uncountable nouns like 'laughter' or 'song', no article is needed.
'Burst into' and 'break into' overlap for laughter and tears, but for physical movement like running or sprinting, 'break into' is the natural choice — 'burst into a run' sounds unnatural.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. Note that movement nouns usually need an article ('break into a run', 'break into a sprint'), but abstract nouns like 'applause' and 'song' do not ('break into applause', 'break into song').
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'break into' always mean that something was difficult?
Yes, almost always. This phrasal verb carries a strong implication that the field or market is competitive and hard to enter. If someone entered a profession easily or without any real barriers, native speakers would typically say 'get into' or simply 'enter' instead.
Can companies or brands use 'break into', or is it only for people?
Both people and organisations can be the subject. You'll commonly hear it used for aspiring individuals — actors, musicians, athletes — but also for startups or established companies trying to enter new markets. For example: 'The brand is looking to break into the luxury skincare market.'
Does 'break into' have other meanings I should know about?
Yes, the same form has at least two other common meanings. It can refer to entering a building or vehicle by force, and it can mean suddenly beginning to do something, such as 'breaking into a run' or 'breaking into song'. The object type is usually enough to tell the senses apart — industries and markets signal the career/business meaning.
Can I use 'break into' in a passive sentence?
It's not natural in the passive for this sense. The structure focuses on the person or company doing the entering, so the active form is almost always used. Sentences like 'the industry was broken into' sound awkward and are rarely heard.
What kinds of objects work best with 'break into' in this sense?
The most natural objects are industries, sectors, markets, and professions — for example, the film industry, the tech sector, an emerging market, or professional sport. Abstract destinations like 'the mainstream' or 'the top ten' also work well. Avoid using objects that refer to physical places or activities, as those trigger the other senses of the phrase.
Can 'break into' be used in the passive, like 'a run was broken into'?
No — passive forms are not possible with this sense. The subject is always the person or group who spontaneously starts the action, so there is no patient that can be passivised. Stick to active constructions like 'she broke into a smile'.
Does 'break into' always describe something spontaneous, or can it describe a planned action?
It strongly implies spontaneity — the action arises naturally from a situation or emotion rather than being planned in advance. If you want to describe a deliberate performance, 'break into' can sound a little odd. A frame like 'they suddenly broke into song' works perfectly because the moment feels unplanned.
Does 'break into' always mean this? I've seen it used in other ways.
Yes, 'break into' has other meanings — for example, entering a place by force or entering a new industry or profession. However, this page covers only the sense of suddenly beginning an action or expression. The object type usually makes the meaning clear: a behaviour or movement signals this sense, while a building or profession signals a different one.
What kinds of nouns can follow 'break into'?
The noun is nearly always an emotional expression ('laughter', 'tears', 'a smile', 'a grin'), a vocal action ('song', 'applause', 'a cheer'), or a physical movement ('a run', 'a sprint', 'a trot', 'a sweat'). You can't use it freely with any action — 'break into a conversation' or 'break into a meal', for instance, would sound unnatural in this sense.
Is 'break into' more common in writing or in speech?
It's used naturally in both. You'll see it frequently in news reports and fiction to describe moments of sudden emotion or movement, but it's also common in everyday spoken English. It's slightly more polished than simply saying 'suddenly started', but it's not formal or stiff.
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