From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbreak into something phrasal verb1 STEALENTERto enter a building or car by using force, in order to steal something Someone broke into my car and stole the radio. Her house was broken into last week.2 NEW BUSINESS ACTIVITYTAKE PART/BE INVOLVEDto become involved in a new job or business activity She made an attempt to break into journalism. It’s a profession that is very hard to break into. Many British firms have failed in their attempts to break into the American market.3 MONEYSPEND MONEYto start to spend money that you did not want to spend I don’t want to break into my savings unless I have to.4 break into a run/trot etcSTART DOING something to suddenly start running He broke into a run as he came round the corner.5 break into a smile/a song/applause etcSTART DOING something to suddenly start smiling, singing etc Her face broke into a smile. The audience broke into loud applause. → break→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
break into • They broke into a trot and found Mary standing in the middle of a thicket.• Finally he took a desperate gulp of air, then another, then broke into an enormous sob.• When the vote was announced, all the anti-ERA constituents broke into cheers.• He said that Madge's house was broken into last night.• I tripped back down the curving stairs, half-expecting a Busby Berkeley chorus to break into song.break into a run/trot etc• I walked briskly one block over to Cabana, the wide boulevard that parallels the beach, and broke into a trot.• It was all I could do to stop myself breaking into a run.• The animal was struggling with a loose shoe and was in no mood to break into a trot.• Without waiting to find out what it meant, she broke into a trot and hurried on round the next corner.• He broke into a trot and the three surprised young men did likewise, aware that something must have gone wrong.• He broke into a trot as he headed up the path to the staff-cabins.• Dhani and Ian broke into a run, taking the high altar steps three at a time. 