English Meaning & Definitions
Past tense of break; to have separated into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.
- “He accidentally broke the vase while cleaning the shelf.”
- “The heavy storm broke the branches of the old oak tree.”
Having completely run out of money; penniless.
- “After paying for his tuition and rent, he was completely broke until his next paycheck.”
- “Many small businesses went broke during the economic recession.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “broke”.
Derived from the Middle English 'broken', the past participle of 'breken', originating from the Old English 'brecan' (to break, shatter, or burst). It shares roots with the Proto-Germanic '*brekanan', reflecting a long history of describing the act of fracturing or violating.
Think of a piggy bank that you 'broke' to get money, leaving you with no money left.
Frequently Asked Questions About “broke”
1. What is the meaning of “broke” in English?
In English, broke (verb) is defined as: “Past tense of break; to have separated into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.”.
2. How do you use “broke” in a sentence?
“He accidentally broke the vase while cleaning the shelf.”
3. What are English synonyms of “broke”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “broke”?
Derived from the Middle English 'broken', the past participle of 'breken', originating from the Old English 'brecan' (to break, shatter, or burst). It shares roots with the Proto-Germanic '*brekanan', reflecting a long history of describing the act of fracturing or violating.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.