broke

[ brohk ]
See synonyms for: brokebroker on Thesaurus.com

verb
  1. a simple past tense of break.

  2. Nonstandard. a past participle of break.

  1. Archaic. a past participle of break.

adjective
  1. without money; penniless.

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 about broke

  1. go broke,

    • to become destitute of money or possessions.

    • 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.

Origin of broke

1
First recorded in 1655–65 for the adjective; 1875–80 for the noun

Other words for broke

Words Nearby broke

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use broke in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for broke

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with broke

broke

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.