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

Raducanu hit 15 unforced errors to zero winners as Sierra broke twice more on her way to a first-set 'bagel'.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Last year, similar scenes broke out in Istanbul, when the courts named an administrator to take charge of the regional CHP offices.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

The Long Beach Wilson junior not only won, she broke the section record, circling the track in 51.98 seconds.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

Sierra broke back immediately but once again failed to serve out the win as a resurgent Raducanu forced a tie-break.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

I lasted a whole seven seconds before I broke.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless