# hack into

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hack-into
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to gain illegal access to a computer system or a private account by breaking through security.

For teachers: to gain unauthorized access to a computer system, network, or digital account, typically by circumventing security protocols.

## Examples

- Someone tried to hack into my email account last night.
- The company's database was compromised after a group of teenagers managed to hack into their main server.
- Cybersecurity experts warned that foreign agents were attempting to hack into the national power grid to disrupt essential services.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They hacked in the system." but "They hacked into the system." — the preposition 'into' is necessary to indicate the movement or entry into the digital space.

## Usage notes

- always followed by the object being accessed, such as a computer, account, or network.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'hack' (intransitive or general) and 'break into' (physical or digital); 'hack into' specifically emphasizes the digital entry point.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.