broken-down

[ broh-kuh n-doun ]

/ ˈbroʊ kənˈdaʊn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR broken-down ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

shattered or collapsed, as with age; infirm.

having given way with use or age; out of working order: a broken-down chair.

Nearby words

broken reed, broken twill weave, broken water, broken wind, broken-check, broken-down, broken-field, brokenhearted, brokenly, broker, broker-dealer

Origin of broken-down

First recorded in 1810–20

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for broken-down

Here, instead of verbalizing her emotions, Winslet oozes dread via her broken-down visage, and slight mannerisms.
At Telluride, Jason Reitman’s ‘Labor Day’ Is Superbly Acted|Marlow Stern|August 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"They go from broken-down, infected teeth or no teeth at all to feeling great about themselves again," she said.
Bad Teeth, Broken Dreams: Lack of Dental Care Keeps Many Out of Jobs|CNBC|June 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Caine is finally decommissioned in the fall of 1945, after steaming its broken-down way home from Okinawa.
David's Bookclub: The Caine Mutiny|David Frum|January 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was a journey we made in a broken-down Lada that had no seat belts or windshield wipers.
With U.S. Adoption Ban, a Mother Fears for Russia’s Abandoned Kids|Janis Cooke Newman|December 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST

So far Harry's tour of the Caribbean has been a riot of informality with booze, boogies and broken-down boats a-plenty.
Best Behaviour, Harry||March 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
With trembling limbs he left the court-room a broken-down man.
The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I (of 2)|Alexandre Dumas pre
A Citizen of North America, whose nest is a wet bed of broken-down reeds, sometimes floating on the water of the marsh.
Citizen Bird|Mabel Osgood Wright and Elliott Coues
Ball was a broken-down pugilist who for over ten years had not entered the ring as a principal.
When God Laughs and Other Stories|Jack London
The name he gave me was Beljames, and he was reported to be a broken-down gentleman.
The Evil Genius|Wilkie Collins
There is a broken-down old stuff here by the name of Hazard.
The Bread Line|Albert Bigelow Paine

British Dictionary definitions for broken-down

broken-down

adjective

worn out, as by age or long use; dilapidateda broken-down fence

not in working ordera broken-down tractor

physically or mentally ill

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

broken-down

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of broken-down

Examples from the Web for broken-down

British Dictionary definitions for broken-down

broken-down

adjective