broke

[brohk]

verb

1. a simple past tense of break.

2. Nonstandard.,  a past participle of break.

3. Archaic.,  a past participle of break.

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.

broke

/ brəʊk /

verb

1. the past tense of break

adjective

1. informal,  having no money; bankrupt

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of broke¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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

Example Sentences

That was before news broke this past week that Bezos was becoming co-chief executive officer of an AI startup, dubbed Project Prometheus, where he is also an investor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Globally 2023 was the warmest year on record where most days in December broke temperature records.

Read more on BBC

His age meant he narrowly avoided Ukraine's military draft for men aged 18 and older when war broke out and he sought refuge in Germany before moving to Japan.

Read more on Barron's

Peak turned down the offer, concerned about the fee it would have to pay if it broke its exclusivity clause with Shenghe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A group of about 150 protestors broke into the venue, breaching security lines, and carrying placards reading "our forests are not for sale".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bankrupt 
• destitute 
• insolvent 
• penniless