🪟 To break partly 🕳️ A narrow opening 💊 A drug 🔊 A sharp noise 🔊 To make a noise 😰 To break down 💻 To hack 🎯 An opportunity 😄 To tell a joke 🏅 Excellent 🏆 To surpass 😄 A quick joke ⚗️ To split chemicals

to crack

68 8.4

To break into a computer or online account without permission

verb
/kræk/

Jargon

: hackear

Craig: The journalist Craig prided himself on his ability to crack computer codes and access files.

And you know, they could crack the blockchain, they could crack the code.

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Examples

So I'm going to crack into here.
If we find that uplink, we can crack the code.

The Running Man (1987)
We can crack this together.

The Bricklayer (2023)
"A lot of people look at their own systems and wonder how anyone could crack it, but any system is vulnerable."

Academic text (2006)
You've got 36 hours to crack this bastard, or you might want to be thinking about another career.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)
We personally, my own computer team personally cracked the Alphabet bandit's code this afternoon.

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
What would happen if an enemy cracked our atomic weapon codes, or re-encrypted our Social Security or health databases?

Academic text (2010)
Hackers managed to crack the company's security system and stole sensitive information.
She was worried that someone might crack her online accounts and steal her personal data.
The team worked hard to prevent attackers from trying to crack their software's encryption.

Synonyms

to break

vsto crack

740 8.0

To enter a building or computer without permission to steal

targets computers or data specifically rather than property or theft

to hack

vsto crack

Texting

307 4.0

To get into a computer or network without permission

often acts with malicious intent when gaining such access

to break in

vsto crack

259 3.9

To enter a building or computer system without permission, often by force

is specifically about accessing computers or data rather than physical entry

to pwn

vsto crack

Slang

1 9.9

To take control of a computer or online account without permission

focuses on gaining unauthorized access rather than taking control

Antonyms

to lock out

113 3.8

To stop someone from entering a building or using an account

Idioms

to crack the whip

9 6.8

To use firm authority to make people work harder and follow rules

to crack a skull

NSFW

1 8.8

To get a serious head injury that breaks the skull

to crack a nut

Informal

1 7.3

To use much more force or effort than needed to solve a small problem

crack kills

NSFW

9.3

A warning slogan saying crack cocaine can kill people

to employ a steam engine to crack a nut

Informal

9.5

To use much more effort or help than needed to do a small task

sledgehammer to crack a nut

Informal

8.5

To use far more force or effort than needed for a small task

Phrasal Verbs

to crack down

82 3.8

To take strong action to stop illegal or wrong behavior

to crack up

Informal

67 3.5

To laugh loudly and without control

to crack open

66 2.6

Open something like a bottle or box to get what is inside

to crack the code

20 5.7

To find the secret meaning or solution in something difficult

to take a crack at

Informal

16 4.9

To try to do something, often for the first time

to crack on

9 6.8

To keep working on something quickly and with energy

to crack up

Informal

4 7.4

To have a nervous breakdown because of too much stress

to crack a joke

Informal

4 2.9

Tell a joke to make people laugh

to crack through

1 6.4

To work quickly to finish many tasks in a short time

to fix the crack

1 1.4

To repair a break or hole in a surface so it is smooth and whole again

to crack a problem

1 3.9

Find a way to solve a hard problem

Compounds

crack cocaine

NSFW

29 6.6

A very strong illegal drug people smoke that causes a strong addiction

crack of dawn

Informal

20 3.2

Very early in the morning when the sun first appears

crack addict

NSFW

11 6.1

A person who uses crack cocaine and cannot stop

crack whore

Offensive

8 9.9

An offensive word for a woman who exchanges sex for crack cocaine, often because she is addicted

crack shot

4 6.5

A person who hits targets very accurately with a gun

crack-up

4 7.2

A sudden emotional breakdown or a sudden burst of laughter

crack of doom

Archaic

1 9.9

The day when God judges everyone and the world ends

quarter crack

Specialized

1 9.9

A vertical crack on the inside of a horse's front hoof that can make the horse limp

creamy crack

Slang

1 9.9

A creamy food that people find very hard to stop eating

fatigue crack

Specialized

1 7.0

A break in metal or hard material caused by repeated stress

crack willow

1 8.2

A large tree with stiff branches that break easily, often growing by rivers

ab crack

Jargon

9.6

A visible straight line that appears down the middle of the belly from strong stomach muscles

plastic crack

Slang

9.9

A strong want to collect plastic toys like action figures or models

sand crack

Specialized

9.8

A vertical crack in a horse's hoof that can cause pain

toe crack

Specialized

9.9

A crack at the front of a horse's hoof that can make the horse limp

How Successful

to crack

Jargon

68 8.4

to get into

NSFW

24 6.3

to probe

44 4.6

Surface Forms

crack infinitive

cracked past

cracked past participle

cracking present participle

cracks third person singular

Etymology

To crack a code or security system uses the idea of 'breaking' something open, like breaking a lock. That's why to 'crack' a password means to open it without permission.