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

About 44% of revenue came from AI chips in the first fiscal quarter of 2026, the first time it broke out those numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

For the bill at Ocean Way, Goldenvoice broke from its usual fine-grained approach to genres and subcultural scenes for a broad but unmistakably beach-day-vibe collection of acts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

A man was rescued from the ride in 2017 after it broke down.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Then US-president Ronald Reagan initially took a neutral stance, but after peace talks broke down Washington gave Britain military and intelligence support.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

I broke off the strand of gold and wrapped it around my finger.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless