broke

1 of 2

ˈbrōk 

past tense of break

broke

2 of 2

adjective

: penniless

see also:

go for broke

Synonyms of broke

Adjective

• poor
• impoverished
• bankrupt
• beggared
• deprived

Examples of broke in a Sentence

Adjective

She is broke and homeless.

Can I borrow 10 dollars? I'm broke until payday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

All three races put Schumer and his allies in a tough position of deciding whether to pour all of their limited resources into a handful of states that can give them 51 seats — or go for broke all across the country to multiply their chances. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Rachel and Monica’s West Village sublet gave way to Hannah and Marnie’s Greenpoint apartment—an address that might be considered laughably unattainable by the broke twentysomethings of today. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

That was about four months after Buc-ee's broke ground near Dayton. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

The Democratic National Committee is both broke and broken, a New York Times bombshell last weekend detailed. — Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, alteration of broken

First Known Use

Adjective

1662, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing broke

• broke the color bar
• broke the color line
• broke the tape
• flat broke
• go broke
• go for broke
• if it ain't broke, don't fix it
• stone broke
• stony broke
• the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back
• They broke the mold

Rhymes for broke

• bloke
• boeck
• choke
• cloak
• cloke
• croak
• folk
• hoke
• joke
• moke
• oak
• poke

Kids Definition

broke

1 of 2

past of break

broke

2 of 2 adjective

ˈbrōk

: having no money : penniless

Medical Definition

broke

past of break

Legal Definition

broke

past of break