broke

[ brohk ]

verb

1. a simple past tense of break.
2. Nonstandard. a past participle of break.
3. Archaic. a past participle of break.

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.

broke

/ brəʊk /

verb

1. the past tense of break

adjective

1. informal.
   having no money; bankrupt
2. go for broke slang.
   to risk everything in a gambling or other venture

Word History and Origins

Origin of broke¹

First recorded in 1655–65 for the adjective; 1875–80 for the noun

Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing broke

see flat broke ; go broke ; go for (broke) ; if it ain't broke don't fix it . Also see under break .

Example Sentences

But as dawn broke, the control room received word that something was terribly wrong.

From Los Angeles Times

But it broke down, in part because city and state officials would not agree to his demands to forcibly clear Skid Row and other encampments.

From Los Angeles Times

When the Mountain fire broke out more than two weeks ago, Samuel and Florentino witnessed the all-too familiar hazy, gray sky and the smell of smoke as they harvested strawberries in an Oxnard field.

From Los Angeles Times

“My brother-in-law in Lubban - next to the Israeli settlement - went to pick his own olives, but they broke his arms and they made him leave along with everyone who was with him.”

From BBC

Along with hurting his eye, Leno broke his wrist and lost a nail, he told Inside Edition: “I am all black and blue.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless