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
The Lost Boys, like First Shadow and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, goes for broke in embracing the admittedly loonier side of their chiller-thriller adventures. Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026 The go-for-broke Ducks charged out of the tunnel and skated circles around the Edmonton Oilers in the first period. Eric Stephens, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
For that, organizers turn to the same technology used when Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya broke the two-hour-marathon barrier in 2019, overlaying data onto potential routes to find the optimal one. Liam Tharme, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 News broke Friday that Helena Bonham Carter had departed the production as her role was being recast. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for broke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broke
Adjective
  • Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.
    Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Disasters threaten treatment The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration works with states to ensure that access to opioid use disorder medication isn't disrupted, Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard said.
    Andrew Jones, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His step-back jumper with 32 seconds left was the exclamation point, a shot that ended Orlando’s final push and extended Detroit’s season.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The program was created by Congress to help quickly protect nationals of countries that, as a result of natural or man-made disasters, were dangerous for people to return to, with routine reevaluations to decide if the protections would be extended or ended.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This was controversial to the public, though, with many feeling that Pluto had been demoted in a dishonorable sense, unjustly kicked out of the club of astronomical objects that people actually care about.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Pavel Dorofeyev, Vegas’ leading scorer in the regular season, has yet to record a point in the series and was demoted down the lineup by Tortorella on Friday.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Kinsella was excited for Yates’ voice to be an easter egg—one of many voices to be deciphered by fans among a scream-singing chorus.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The recently paused hepatitis B trial has similarly been likened to this stain on American history.
    Uzma Rentia, STAT, 27 Apr. 2026
  • From there, the group paused the round and pulled up a livestream to watch the pick come through officially.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Brin and a cohort of the ultrawealthy including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and venture capitalists Vinod Khosla and John Doerr have plowed millions into supporting Matt Mahan, a Silicon Valley mayor, with a back-to-basics agenda and a penchant for taking on the state’s Democratic establishment.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Nvidia — Shares of the chip giant popped about 1% as investors plowed money back into tech stocks.
    Davis Giangiulio,Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The parents sued the school board and district officials in 2021, alleging that their rights to make decisions about the care and upbringing of their children were violated.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Broke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broke. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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