Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

broke

/ˈbɹoʊ̯k/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.85 in modern English

Syllables: broke
IPA: /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/

11

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

simple past of break

verb

past participle of break

Archaic

adj

Financially ruined, bankrupt.

Informal

adj

Without any money, penniless.

Informal

adj

Archaic; Informal

adj

Demoted, deprived of a commission.

noun

Paper or board that is discarded and repulped during the manufacturing process.

noun

A fragment, remains, a piece broken off.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"Accordingly, he came with a mob the next day; and after they had broke all the windows..."
"The horse was the grey stallion he aye rode, the very beast he had ridden for many a wager with the wild lads of the Cross Keys. No man but himself durst back it, and it had lamed many a hostler lad and broke two necks in its day."
"1999 October 3, J. Stewart Burns, "Mars University", Futurama, season 2, episode 2, Fox Broadcasting Company Guenther: I guess the hat must have broke my fall."
"He was broke after spending all his money into video games."
"It seems some of his Creditors have taken notice of it, and he was like to be broke yesterday in his absence."
"dead broke; flat broke"

Etymology

Ablauted form of break.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: broce, gebroc

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/
British English: /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/

Usage

Inflected Forms

broker (comparative) more broke (comparative) brokest (superlative) most broke (superlative) brokes (plural) brokes (present, singular) broking (participle, present) broked (participle, past) broked (past)

Derived Forms

brokeass brokeness greenbroke gunbroke heartbroke

Phrases

broke as a joke broke-ass broker than the Ten Commandments go for broke go woke, go broke if it ain't broke, don't fix it nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people stone broke

Synonyms

almsless arm badly off bankrupt beggared beggarly boracic broke broken broker than the Ten Commandments depauperate destitute

Rhymes With

joke smoke spoke stroke woke folk oak coke stoke choke soak poke

Questions

How do you pronounce broke?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/.
What does broke mean?: simple past of break
Where does broke come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce broke

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “broke”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbɹoʊ̯k/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “broke”.
Repeat and practice — Say “broke” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.