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

Taylor Swift and Drake were the clear winners on Spotify - except in Newcastle, where Fender broke their stranglehold.

From BBC

Full of confidence, Baloucoune - who was also excellent in defence - broke clear and found replacement O'Brien, on for injured James Lowe, for a third unanswered try.

From BBC

Santos-Aviles’ husband broke his silence in a subsequent interview with the newspaper that was published Wednesday.

From Salon

One example: In the third quarter of last year, China kept buying oil “way beyond what they usually consume,” Kaneva said, noting that the models analysts use to forecast oil prices “broke down.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The direct talks with Israel that underpinned a peace process finally broke down over a decade ago.

From BBC

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless