breaking and entering

noun

Definition of breaking and entering

: the act of forcing or otherwise gaining unlawful passage into and entering another's building

Examples of breaking and entering in a Sentence

The thief was arrested and charged with breaking and entering.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Twitter community has been known to unearth things most people overlook—and turn them into news worldwide, from custom Ikea couch fails to alligators breaking and entering. Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Twitter is Going Crazy Over Photos of The Iconic Man Who Invented The Plastic Pink Lawn Flamingo," 3 July 2019 Fennell, who was booked in September on breaking and entering charges, collapsed in a corridor in front of facility staff. Juliana Kim, baltimoresun.com, "'We want to know how these folks died': Protesters at Baltimore's Central Booking demand answers," 21 June 2019 He had been arrested on charges of breaking and entering. Kevin Rector, baltimoresun.com, "'I need to know what happened to my son,' says mother of man who died in a Baltimore jail," 7 June 2019 Teens on the list have been charged with crimes like breaking and entering, stealing cars, robbery and homicide, Teague said. Jane Wester, charlotteobserver, "7 teens have been charged with murder in the past month. What's going on in Charlotte? | Charlotte Observer," 26 Apr. 2018 He was charged with domestic assualt and battery, strangulation or suffocation, and breaking and entering in the daytime, police said. Andres Picon And Katie Camero, BostonGlobe.com, "State Police Air Wing helps in capture of man wanted for domestic incident in Methuen," 5 July 2018 The man is currently on parole for breaking and entering, burglary and safecracking. Jeff Piorkowski/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Pastor encounters man in church, is threatened: Solon police blotter," 20 Apr. 2018 Kent Covington spent eight months in a North Carolina prison in 1974 for breaking and entering, and larceny, and later joined the church. Washington Post, "2 members of secretive NC sect charged with fraud conspiracy," 9 June 2018 In addition, Kenneh had prior convictions for breaking and entering in 2008 and violating a restraining order in 2014, records show. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Feds seek 70-month sentence for Liberian national who attacked ICE agents trying to deport him," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breaking and entering.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of breaking and entering

1598, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for breaking and entering

breaking and entering

noun

English Language Learners Definition of breaking and entering

law : the crime of illegally entering a house, building, etc., especially by using force

breaking and entering

noun

Legal Definition of breaking and entering

: the act of gaining passage into and entering another's property (as a building or vehicle) without privilege or by force also : the crime of breaking and entering — see also burglary