Showing results for "broke"

• 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

See Examples For:

broke

At a portrait of Yevgeni Postel, a 25-year-old student, his mother laid a bouquet of flowers and broke down sobbing.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

As her confirmation hearing approached in 2025, Guilfoyle complained to friends that she was broke, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Photographer Brian Anderson, who first met Ferris for a newspaper assignment in 2002, broke the news of his death on his Naked City Facebook page.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo says he is not retiring from international football but deserves to be punished for walking out on Portugal even though head coach Jorge Jesus "broke his word to me".

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

My heart broke as I looked at them.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless