Showing Results for "broke"

See Also:

• past tense form of break.
• past participle of break.

broke

American  

[brohk] / broʊk /

verb

1. a simple past tense of break.

2. Nonstandard. a past participle of break.

3. Archaic. a past participle of break.

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adjective

1. without money; penniless.

   Synonyms:

   impoverished, destitute, insolvent

2. bankrupt.

   Synonyms:

   impoverished, destitute, insolvent

noun

1. Papermaking. paper unfit for sale; paper that is to be repulped.

2. brokes, wool of poor quality taken from the neck and belly of sheep.

idioms

1. go broke,

   1. to become destitute of money or possessions.

   2. to go bankrupt.

      In that business people are forever going broke.

2. go for broke, to exert oneself or employ one's resources to the utmost.

broke British  

/ brəʊk /

verb

1. the past tense of break

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adjective

1. informal having no money; bankrupt

2. slang to risk everything in a gambling or other venture

broke More Idioms  

1. see flat broke; go broke; go for (broke); if it ain't broke don't fix it. Also see under break.

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Etymology

Origin of broke

First recorded in 1655–65 for the adjective; 1875–80 for the noun

Example Sentences

She was out of the country when the fire broke out and has received criticism over her handling of the recovery.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Thayil wants to get things right — he explains that he was the person thinking about Soundgarden’s legacy after the band broke up in 1997.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

I later learned he worried I’d be broke if baseball didn’t work out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

"I broke down sobbing and crying when they said the appeal was rejected," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Now that me and Lloyd saw its end might be nigh, hope broke over us.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless