cracked

American  

[krakt] / krækt /

adjective

1. broken.

   a container full of cracked ice.

2. broken without separation of parts; fissured.

3. damaged; injured.

4. Informal. eccentric; mad; daffy.

   a charming person, but a bit cracked.

5. broken in tone, as the voice.

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idioms

1. cracked up to be, reported or reputed to be (usually used in the negative).

   I hear the play is not what it's cracked up to be.

cracked British  

/ krækt /

adjective

1. damaged by cracking

2. informal crazy

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Other Word Forms

• uncracked
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cracked

First recorded in 1400–50, cracked is from the late Middle English word crachyd. See crack, -ed ²

Example Sentences

He said the team thought it had "cracked it" on Friday, but a pipe coming off on Sunday was time-consuming to fix "and then you lose the weather window".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Many of Swann’s readers admit a similar skepticism until they cracked her book’s spine and discovered they couldn’t put it down.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

After months of planning and internal debate, Red Lobster executives believe they have cracked the code on Endless Shrimp.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Geothermal projects have been around for decades, but Fervo says it has cracked the code to unlocking much more energy from the technology.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

“Perhaps the tarte Philippe is not all it is cracked up to be,” she nearly said, for she did feel sorry for poor Lady Constance and wished to comfort her.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• broken
• damaged
• fractured