broke
1 of 2 ˈbrōk 
past tense of break
broke
2 of 2adjective
: penniless
Synonyms
Adjective
- beggared
- beggarly
- destitute
- dirt-poor
- down-and-out
- famished
- hard up
- impecunious
- impoverished
- indigent
- necessitous
- needful
- needy
- pauperized
- penniless
- penurious
- poor
- poverty-stricken
- skint [chiefly British]
- threadbare
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She is broke and homeless. Can I borrow 10 dollars? I'm broke until payday.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jasmine Browley, Essence, 28 July 2022 Going for broke rather than investing just 20 percent or zero in the market certainly produces a much higher upside. Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Naive and good-natured, Scully failed to file travel expense reports, and the earnest announcer nearly went broke the first year. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Aug. 2022 As the water rose, Ms. Estep tried to run for her life after a storage shed broke loose from its moorings and slammed hard into the side of her trailer, a gift from her boyfriend of 17 years, Ronnie Holcomb. New York Times, 31 July 2022 Alex Toth died broke and facing federal charges in 2008 at the age of 60. Fox News, 29 July 2022 At the signal, Thoms pulled so hard the oar broke, forcing officials to postpone the team’s heat. Kim O'connell, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 July 2022 And though there’s been a little remodeling over the years at the venerable sandwich shop his parents spun up 50 years ago, its safe to say that nothing’s broke. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2022 There's so many funny stories that my parents have of those early days when they were broke and figuring it out. Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, refinery29.com, 19 July 2022 See More
Adjective
It’s been reported that about 60 percent of former NBA players go broke within five years of retirement. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 28 July 2022 Going for broke rather than investing just 20 percent or zero in the market certainly produces a much higher upside. Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Naive and good-natured, Scully failed to file travel expense reports, and the earnest announcer nearly went broke the first year. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Aug. 2022 As the water rose, Ms. Estep tried to run for her life after a storage shed broke loose from its moorings and slammed hard into the side of her trailer, a gift from her boyfriend of 17 years, Ronnie Holcomb. New York Times, 31 July 2022 Alex Toth died broke and facing federal charges in 2008 at the age of 60. Fox News, 29 July 2022 At the signal, Thoms pulled so hard the oar broke, forcing officials to postpone the team’s heat. Kim O'connell, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 July 2022 And though there’s been a little remodeling over the years at the venerable sandwich shop his parents spun up 50 years ago, its safe to say that nothing’s broke. Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2022 There's so many funny stories that my parents have of those early days when they were broke and figuring it out. Wisdom Iheanyichukwu, refinery29.com, 19 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, alteration of broken
First Known Use
Adjective
1710, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing broke
Kids Definition
broke 1 of 2
past tense of break
broke
2 of 2adjective
ˈbrōk
: having no money
Medical Definition
broke
past of break
Legal Definition
broke
past of break
broke 1 of 2
adjective
as in poor
lacking money or material possessions too broke to afford even a used car Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- poor
- impoverished
- beggared
- bankrupt
- bankrupted
- deprived
- penniless
- depressed
- destitute
- needful
- pauperized
- busted
- famished
- needy
- skint
- hard up
- beggarly
- indigent
- impecunious
- threadbare
- penurious
- ruined
- necessitous
- out at the elbows
- out at elbows
- dirt-poor
- down on one's luck
- out of pocket
- bust
- distressed
- pinched
- reduced
- disadvantaged
- poverty-stricken
- dispossessed
- down-and-out
- short
- insolvent
- underprivileged
- unaffluent
- straitened
- tapped out
- low
- possessionless
- poorish
- hardscrabble
- cash-strapped
- hand-to-mouth
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flush
- rich
- wealthy
- moneyed
- affluent
- monied
- fat
- opulent
- comfortable
- well-to-do
- prosperous
- well-off
- well-heeled
- deep-pocketed
- silk-stocking
- fat-cat
broke
2 of 2verb
1
as in disrupted
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly hated telling her that I had broken her favorite glass vase Synonyms & Similar Words
- disrupted
- fractured
- shattered
- disintegrated
- busted
- destroyed
- smashed
- split
- ruined
- fragmented
- reduced
- dismembered
- ground
- rived
- blasted
- wrecked
- exploded
- cracked
- bust
- broke up
- crushed
- popped
- chipped
- burst
- pulverized
- splintered
- bursted
- detonated
- imploded
- shivered
- powdered
- atomized
- blew up
- slivered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fixed
- repaired
- rebuilt
- healed
- mended
- reconstructed
- patched
- renovated
- reconditioned
- doctored
2
as in ended
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the final vote broke the deadlock Synonyms & Similar Words
- ended
- stopped
- ceased
- halted
- quit
- quitted
- suspended
- dropped
- concluded
- laid off
- suspended
- delayed
- broke off
- finished
- cut off
- shut off
- discontinued
- left off
- broke up
- cut out
- knocked off
- called
- gave over
- ruined
- canned
- completed
- stayed
- held
- blocked
- put the kibosh on
- paused
- had done with
- packed (up or in)
- stemmed
- destroyed
- hindered
- desisted (from)
- checked
- scuttled
- impeded
- obstructed
- arrested
- squashed
- dammed
- stamped
- deactivated
- squelched
- held back
- killed
- turned back
- blockaded
- detained
- suppressed
- dissolved
- demolished
- snuffed
- abolished
- stunted
- aborted
- braked
- kiboshed
- clamped down
- annulled
- staunched
- closed (down)
- stanched
- reined (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continued
- proceeded
- kept up
- progressed
- followed through (with)
- drove
- propelled
- advanced
- stirred
- ran on
- carried on
- actuated
- impelled
3
as in demoted
to bring to a lower grade or rank the captain was broken to lieutenant commander for disobeying a direct order from his group commander Synonyms & Similar Words
- demoted
- reduced
- busted
- downgraded
- dismissed
- sacked
- degraded
- laid off
- disrated
- bust
- fired
- downsized
- humiliated
- canned
- cashiered
- humbled
- debased
- lowered
- demeaned
- abased
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- raised
- promoted
- advanced
- hired
- elevated
4
as in deciphered
to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park mathematicians broke the Enigma code being used by the Nazis Synonyms & Similar Words
- deciphered
- cracked
- solved
- translated
- decrypted
- decoded
- unraveled
- rendered
- figured out
- descrambled
- worked
- unscrambled
- unriddled
- worked out
- wrought
- doped (out)
- puzzled (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coded
- encoded
- encrypted
- ciphered
- garbled
- mixed (up)
- enciphered
- jumbled (up)
5
as in paused
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity she broke from her ruminations to find that it was already dinnertime Synonyms & Similar Words
- paused
- hesitated
- stopped
- ended
- interrupted
- finished
- caught one's breath
- held one's horses
- ceased
- broke in
- laid off
- terminated
- lapsed
- discontinued
- quitted
- quit
- knocked off
- let up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continued
- persisted
- extended
- stretched
- advanced
- progressed
- prolonged
6
as in plowed
to cut into and turn over the sod of (a piece of land) using a bladed implement farmers once broke fields with horse-drawn plows Synonyms & Similar Words
- plowed
- raked
- fallowed
- furrowed
- tilled
- cultivated
- hoed
- harrowed
- rototilled
- listed
7
as in violated
to fail to keep had to confess that he had broken his promise not to share their conversation with anyone Synonyms & Similar Words
- violated
- breached
- fractured
- contravened
- transgressed
- disobeyed
- ignored
- offended
- rebelled
- flouted
- traduced
- resisted
- disregarded
- neglected
- dismissed
- blew off
- passed over
- defied
- infringed (on or upon)
- withstood
- tuned out
- scorned
- overpassed
- pooh-poohed
- poohed
- shrugged off
- overlooked
- slighted
- brushed (off)
- winked (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- followed
- observed
- served
- obeyed
- heard
- submitted (to)
- noticed
- yielded (to)
- marked
- noted
- watched
- conformed (to)
- attended
- regarded
- complied (with)
- minded
- surrendered (to)
- listened (to)
- deferred (to)
- heeded
8
as in solved
to find an answer for through reasoning Professor Bates broke the problem when she realized that it was possible to synthesize the necessary compounds Synonyms & Similar Words
- solved
- unraveled
- answered
- resolved
- cracked
- figured out
- worked
- worked out
- unriddled
- deciphered
- concluded
- decided
- wrought
- deduced
- untied
- inferred
- doped (out)
- riddled (out)
- reasoned
- gathered
- ironed out
- puzzled (out)
- guessed
- judged
- untangled
- speculated
- presumed
- assumed
- divined
- conjectured
- straightened (out)
- unscrambled
- decoded
- cleared (up)
9
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of I broke a tooth on the hard candy Synonyms & Similar Words
- damaged
- injured
- marred
- hurt
- crippled
- compromised
- weakened
- eroded
- impaired
- destroyed
- harmed
- shattered
- flawed
- spoiled
- bloodied
- undermined
- disfigured
- ruined
- defaced
- blemished
- deteriorated
- crabbed
- battered
- wounded
- spoilt
- vitiated
- endamaged
- smashed
- wrecked
- scoured
- crossed (up)
- tarnished
- dented
- enfeebled
- demolished
- lacerated
- dinged
- tortured
- enervated
- washed out
- blighted
- devastated
- botched
- mangled
- hamstrung
- disabled
- tormented
- clobbered
- decimated
- wiped out
- mutilated
- lamed
- bashed
- dinted
- totaled
- crushed
- pulverized
- wore (away)
- razed
- maimed
- annihilated
- wasted
- dashed
- tore down
- banged up
- totalled
- scourged
- desolated
- queered
- gummed (up)
- did in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fixed
- repaired
- rebuilt
- patched
- mended
- reconstructed
- helped
- renovated
- healed
- cured
- revamped
- doctored
- remedied
- reconditioned
- rectified
- rehabilitated
- revised
- improved
- remodeled
- edited
- enriched
- perfected
- enhanced
- refined
- bettered
- ameliorated
- meliorated
10
as in died
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day Synonyms & Similar Words
- died
- crashed
- failed
- stalled
- fizzled
- cut out
- sputtered
- gave out
- jammed
- malfunctioned
- broke down
- wheezed
- conked (out)
- acted up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- started (up)
11
as in flew
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the herd of gazelles broke when they saw the lions racing toward them from the ridge above Synonyms & Similar Words
- flew
- retreated
- bolted
- fled
- ran
- escaped
- run
- skedaddled
- ran off
- beat it
- beat a retreat
- ran away
- turned tail
- bugged out
- made tracks
- lammed
- decamped
- eloped
- lit
- absconded
- scrammed
- got out
- hightailed (it)
- made off
- cleared out
- scatted
- mizzled
- scarpered
- skirred
- lighted out
- skipped (out)
- got (away)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confronted
- faced
- defied
- dared
- remained
- braved
- stayed
- bearded
- lingered
- dwelt
- hung around
- dwelled
- abided
- tarried
- stuck around
- abode
12
as in wore
to use up all the physical energy of the trek up the mountain just about broke me Synonyms & Similar Words
- wore
- exhausted
- tired
- killed
- drained
- wearied
- burned out
- busted
- harassed
- knocked out
- wasted
- weakened
- fatigued
- wore out
- burnt out
- washed out
- fagged
- bust
- outwore
- frazzled
- sapped
- wore to a frazzle
- tuckered (out)
- did in
- did up
- debilitated
- enfeebled
- enervated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthened
- activated
- rested
- energized
- relaxed
- rejuvenated
- invigorated
- vitalized
- unwound
13
as in circulated
to become known as soon as the scandal broke, the CEO fled the country Synonyms & Similar Words
- circulated
- spread
- revealed
- got round
- unfolded
- got out
- outed
- told
- spilled
- developed
- got about
- got around
- came out
- disclosed
- transpired
- spilt
- leaked (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suppressed
- hid
- concealed
- disguised
- masked
- hushed (up)
- secreted
14
as in bankrupted
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts another bad investment could break him Synonyms & Similar Words
- bankrupted
- ruined
- busted
- reduced
- bust
- beggared
- pauperized
- impoverished
- wiped out
- straitened
- cleaned (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enriched
- richened
15
as in began
to come into existence the crisis had passed, and a new day was breaking Synonyms & Similar Words
- began
- originated
- started
- arose
- commenced
- emerged
- appeared
- was
- sprang
- sprung
- set in
- arrived
- formed
- dawned
- lived
- existed
- engendered
- breathed
- materialized
- actualized
- subsisted
- lasted
- continued
- persisted
- survived
- coalesced
- came on
- endured
- cohered
- shaped (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ended
- stopped
- ceased
- finished
- concluded
- disappeared
- halted
- terminated
- died
- quit
- vanished
- dissolved
- discontinued
- evaporated
- quitted
- departed
- expired
- desisted
- perished
- passed away
16
as in veered
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course the running back broke to his left before running out of bounds Synonyms & Similar Words
- veered
- bowed
- cut
- turned
- wandered
- circled
- swerved
- curved
- sheered
- swept
- yawed
- bent
- arched
- curled
- zagged
- pivoted
- twisted
- hooked
- zigged
- crooked
- spiraled
- rounded
- arced
- skewed
- weaved
- slued
- wound
- looped
- strayed
- zigzagged
- spiralled
- wheeled
- slewed
- deviated
- coiled
- wavered
- about-faced
- winded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightened
17
as in reduced
to diminish the price or value of distressing economic news that will break many energy stocks Synonyms & Similar Words
- reduced
- lowered
- sank
- depressed
- sunk
- devalued
- shrank
- downgraded
- devaluated
- shrunk
- attenuated
- wrote down
- marked down
- depreciated
- wrote off
- cheapened
- debased
- demonetized
- dwindled
- compressed
- underestimated
- downsized
- contracted
- underrated
- undervalued
- moderated
- deflated
- lessened
- underpriced
- abridged
- de-escalated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- upgraded
- enhanced
- appreciated
- blew up
- marked up
- inflated
- added
- increased
- extended
- swelled
- raised
- expanded
- escalated
- overestimated
- boosted
- augmented
- compounded
- bloated
- multiplied
- overrated
- enlarged
- upped
- overpriced
- amplified
- heightened
- dilated
- overvalued
- maximized
- ballooned
- aggrandized
18
as in exceeded
to go beyond the limit of a menu with prices that is likely to break the budgets of all but the wealthiest of diners Synonyms & Similar Words
- exceeded
- surpassed
- outran
- transcended
- invaded
- outreached
- overshot
- overreached
- overran
- overstepped
- entrenched
- trespassed
- encroached
- overpassed
- infringed
- intrenched
- overdid
- overworked
- overused
- overutilized
19
as in surfaced
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat Synonyms & Similar Words
- surfaced
- emerged
- rose
- broached
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dropped
- sank
- plunged
- sunk
- dived
- drowned
- submerged
- foundered
- dove
- submersed