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

Appeared in the May 5, 2026, print edition as 'The Man Who Broke Russia'.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Interestingly, several of Rose's songs are credited to New York indie record label Broke - who have a track record in turning viral artists like bbno$ and Ndotz into chart stars.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

The dark history is retold in a book with a much lighter title: “Never Date a Broke Dude: The Financial Freedom Playbook.”

From Salon • May 9, 2025

Appeared in the April 8, 2025, print edition as 'How Alex Ovechkin Broke An Unbreakable Record'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2025

As Gus neared he heard him whistling: “The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down. . . .”

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless