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

The summerlike heat in March broke monthly records in many areas of the Western U.S., accelerating the melting of snow in the Rocky Mountains as well.

From Los Angeles Times

The asteroid itself is made up of fragments from a much larger parent body that broke apart long ago.

From Science Daily

Strong waves broke through another part of the lake’s wall and about half the lake’s water gushed out, Sattar and his co-authors estimated in a research paper in the journal Science.

From The Wall Street Journal

When he challenged her, a row broke out, he says.

From BBC

Before the conflict broke out, jet fuel cost about $2.50 a gallon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bankrupt
• destitute
• insolvent
• penniless