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Glite Dictionary
🎤 To start performing 🏃 To start moving
to break into

to break into

14 3.3
Suddenly start doing something, like running or dancing
  • phrasal verb
  • /breɪk ˈɪntu/
translation icon : echar a
  • "Faster!" said Penelope, breaking into a run, and the Mouse followed suit.

Examples

  • OK, what's your parting advice to anyone who is trying to break into the YouTube sphere as a content creator?

  • I work mostly with alcoholic beverage and athletic equipment companies, and I'm trying to break into the jewelry market right now.

    How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

  • And he gets his balance, quickly goes into a roll, bounces up, breaks into a run, and --

    Fiction book (1994)

  • For a moment, she was startled, then instantly broke into a smile.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Whitman looked up, cigarette between his fingers, and broke into a smile.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • My friend wheels around and breaks into a run, disappearing into a narrow street a block away.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Grant looks at the bids and breaks into a wide grin.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The plump man breaks into a smile, pats Leonard on the arm, and shakes his hand.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • As early as 1863, in Macon and other cities, starving mobs of housewives broke into stores.

    Academic text (2007)

  • After hearing the music, she couldn't resist and decided to break into a dance right there on the street.

Synonyms

to jump
vsto break into
243 1.4

To change quickly from one state or topic to another

is about suddenly beginning an action rather than broad state changes
to burst
vsto break into
115 1.9

Enter or appear suddenly with energy

is similar but centers on starting an activity or behavior not physical entry
to jump into
vsto break into
38 3.0

Start taking part in something quickly and with enthusiasm

is sudden but usually more neutral and not driven by enthusiasm
to break in
vsto break into
11 3.4

To start working in a new job or field, often for the first time

is sudden and often immediate change of behavior rather than gradual familiarization
to burst out
vsto break into
2 3.4

Start suddenly and appear or happen quickly

is about suddenly beginning to act or change rather than mere unexpected occurrence
to start into
vsto break into
  • Informal
1 4.3

Begin speaking or acting quickly with energy about a topic

is about sudden beginning of action more broadly not just initial engagement
to sally into
vsto break into
8.4

To make a sudden, energetic start in a new activity

is sudden too but does not focus on newness or unfamiliar situations

Antonyms

to continue
586 1.0

To stay in the same job or role

to hesitate
318 2.5

To pause before saying or doing something because you feel unsure

How Sudden

to burst
115 1.9
to break into
14 3.3
to start
∞ 1.0
to ease
119 2.4

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

break + into

The sense 'suddenly begin doing something' is partly recoverable because 'into' marks change of state and 'break' can imply leaving one state for another, so a learner could infer starting a new action (e.g., moving into a run). However, the suddenness and conventional pairing with activities (break into a run/laugh/song) is somewhat metaphorical and not fully predictable from the individual words, so learners often need prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrasal verb break into (as in break into a run) gives the image of breaking out of stillness and moving 'into' action, like a person suddenly changing from standing to running. That's why it means 'to suddenly begin doing something or to start moving'.