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🕵️ To enter illegally ✋ To interrupt 👟 To make comfortable 🚪 To start learning 🚨 To force open
to break in

to break in

30 3.4
To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited
  • phrasal verb
  • /breɪk ɪn/
translation icon : interrumpir
  • During the meeting, Sarah decided to break in and share her thoughts on the project's direction.
  • let me break in
  • sorry to break in
  • break in to ask

And periodically she breaks in and says, are Are you ready to talk about tomorrow?

Examples

Synonyms

to interfere
vsto break in
487 3.5

To get involved in a situation and make things not work as they should

is specific to interrupting conversations or activities without permission rather than general disruption
to intrude
vsto break in
105 4.4

To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome

adds the sense of interrupting actions without permission rather than only entering
to barge in
vsto break in
  • Informal
59 5.5

Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited

covers interruption without permission but not necessarily sudden rude entry
to put in
vsto break in
54 3.8

Interrupt a conversation to make a short comment or question

is used for uninvited interruption rather than a polite contribution
to chime in
vsto break in
  • Informal
40 4.3

To make a short comment during a conversation

implies uninvited interruption or intrusion rather than simply joining politely
to intrude on
vsto break in
22 4.6

To go into someone's space or life without permission

focuses on interrupting conversations or activities rather than general interference
to burst in
vsto break in
21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

focuses on uninvited interruption rather than only sudden entry
to butt in
vsto break in
  • Informal
21 4.4

Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited

can also mean entering a situation without permission rather than only speaking
to cut in
vsto break in
6 3.5

Interrupt someone who is speaking or doing something

focuses on interruptions that happen without permission or invitation
to horn in
vsto break in
  • Informal
5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

is more about uninvited interruption than about meddling in others' affairs
to burst in on
vsto break in
3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

is about interruption without invitation rather than mere sudden arrival
to poke one's nose into
vsto break in
  • Informal
1 7.3

To try to take part in other people's business without being asked

is about interrupting actions without permission rather than long term meddling
to stick one's nose into
vsto break in
  • UK
1 7.9

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

focuses on interrupting conversations or activities rather than prying into private affairs
to chisel in
vsto break in
  • Informal
7.7

Interrupt someone who is speaking by joining their conversation without waiting

covers conversations and other activities rather than only speech

Antonyms

to wait on
  • US
83 3.9

To delay doing something until someone answers or a situation changes

How Intrusive

to barge in
  • Informal
59 5.5
to break in
30 3.4
to butt in
  • Informal
21 4.4
to cut in
6 3.5
to interject
39 6.5

Surface Forms

break in infinitive
breaking in present participle
breaks in third person singular
broke in past
broken in past participle

Morphology

break + in

The meaning 'to forcefully enter by breaking a barrier' is directly and compositionally derived from 'break' (to damage or cause to separate) plus 'in' (into the interior); the particle adds the direction/result of entering. This verb+particle construction is a common, predictable pattern and a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the intended sense.

Etymology

The phrasal verb break in comes from the picture of someone forcing their way into a room or group to speak, as if they break the space and step in. That's why it means 'to interrupt' or 'to intrude on a conversation'.