broke 1 of 2

Definition of brokenext

broke

2 of 2

verb

past tense of break
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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

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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

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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

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as in died
to stop functioning after working for 30 years, the pump simply broke one day

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as in ruined
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts another bad investment could break him

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as in surfaced
to penetrate the surface (as of water) from below dolphins were breaking all around the boat

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of broke
Adjective
Different campaigns try different things, but different campaigns are broke. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026 And as for the financial motive that Kouri was broke? Natalie Morales, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Verb
The Sooners scored all four runs that inning with two outs starting when Kyle Branch broke a 3-all tie with a two-run single. ABC News, 20 June 2026 Another bail agent broke the front driver-side window of the suspect's vehicle and tried to shift the vehicle's transmission into park. Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for broke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke
Adjective
  • Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.
    Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
    Arthur Cosby, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, its medium-range drones have also disrupted Russia’s supply lines to the front, and its long-range strikes have increasingly damaged Russian oil facilities that provide vital revenue for the Kremlin’s war effort.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
  • Record heat has disrupted schools and transportation networks and forced some tourist attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, to close.
    Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Kylee explained that Aven eventually ended things again, citing the damage done to their relationship.
    Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
  • Morocco would rally to a 4-2 victory, advancing to the next round as Haiti’s journey ended.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • The man who chaired the Chicago Housing Authority board until Mayor Brandon Johnson demoted him announced on Thursday his campaign for Johnson’s seat.
    Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • Crowley, who was demoted to another position, filed a lawsuit against the city, saying the mayor engaged in a retaliation campaign.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Its successor script, Linea B, was also a mystery until it was deciphered in 1952 by an amateur linguist and cryptographer Michael Ventris with the help of classicist John Chadwick, both building on patterns in the script first identified by classicist Alice Kober.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • The signature was deciphered with the help of AI, and specialists at auction house Lyon & Turnbull were able to confirm that Cadell was the artist.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Traders remained in a buoyant mood after news that the two sides had paused their conflict, which had sent energy costs soaring and stoked inflation.
    Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • The Scots did create some mischief, however, as play was briefly paused when a beach ball landed in right field.
    Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Roads are not plowed, so owners and guests reach the property by snow cat or sled from the gate.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
  • Over the past five years, the Google parent has plowed about $280 billion into share repurchases, or more than 6% of Alphabet’s current market capitalization, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • But the court ruled in February that Republican counter plans violated a Utah referendum prohibiting gerrymandering, solidifying the single district centered on the increasingly liberal Salt Lake City.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • The crash was not an accident, Adams said, because Pino violated several navigational rules — and piloted the boat without thinking about the well-being of his wife, daughter and the 11 girls on the boat.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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