Break into meaning
Break into means to get into a building or car by force, usually to steal. It can also mean to suddenly start laughing, singing or running.
break into something
break into · broke · broken · breaking
Someone broke into my car and took my bag.
Break into meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Get into a building or car by force, usually to steal
break into something
- Someone broke into my car and took my bag.
- Thieves broke into the school and stole twenty laptops.
- Has your flat ever been broken into?
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2
Suddenly start laughing, singing or running
break into something
- The whole class broke into laughter.
- When the bus came, he broke into a run.
- She suddenly broke into song in the middle of dinner.
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3
Start to be successful in a new job or area
break into something
- It’s really hard to break into the music business.
- The company wants to break into the Asian market.
- How did you break into acting without any contacts?
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use break into in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is break into separable?
Break into is not separable. The place always comes after into: break into a house, break into it. Never break a house into.
In the passive, keep into at the end: Our office was broken into. Break into also takes a noun for a sudden action: break into a smile.
Verb tenses for break into
| Present | I break into · she breaks into |
|---|---|
| Past | broke into |
| Present perfect | have broken into |
| -ing form | breaking into |
Common mistakes with break into
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Someone broke in my car.
Right: Someone broke into my car.
When you name the place, use into.
Wrong: Our shop was broken last night.
Right: Our shop was broken into last night.
Was broken means damaged; was broken into means entered by thieves.
Wrong: Everyone broke into laugh.
Right: Everyone broke into laughter.
Use a noun after break into: laughter, a smile, a run.
Synonyms and opposites of break into
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- break inthe same crime, but without naming the place
- burst intosuddenly start crying, laughing or singing, very similar
- get intoenter a place or job, without force
Opposite
- break outget out of a place by force
- drop out ofleave an area of work or study before success
Break into quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Someone ___ our shed and took the bikes.
With the place after it, the verb is break into.
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2Choose the right sentence.
The passive keeps into: was broken into.
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3“She finally broke into television after years of theatre.” What happened?
Break into a field means start to be successful in it.
More phrasal verbs with break
5 phrasal verbs start with break. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Break into FAQ
Questions people ask about break into.
Is break into a crime?
In its main meaning, yes. It means entering a place or car by force. But break into a smile or break into a market are not crimes.
What is the difference between break into and burst into?
Both mean start suddenly. Burst into is more common with tears and flames: She burst into tears. Break into is more common with a run or a smile.
What does break into a market mean?
It means a company starts selling successfully in a new place or to new customers: The brand broke into Japan last year.
Use break into in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.