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

The buzz: With a goal and an assist in the Americans’ penultimate warm-up with Senegal, Christian Pulisic broke out of a career-long scoring drought and proved himself ready for the World Cup.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

That intensified somewhat when news broke that Clarke had penned a new four-year deal at the end of last month.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

After unleashing a superb backhand winner from an acute angle off the court, she broke into a broad grin and spread her arms out in a gesture that suggested she was surprising even herself.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 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

The sun’s frail light no longer broke the canopy, and in the deepening shadows, the faint glow of the four realms was beginning to appear.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless