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Meaning & use

broken

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈbrəʊkən/
US/ˈbroʊkən/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Split into pieces, cracked, or damaged so that it cannot work properly.

    Grammar: Can come before a noun or after be: a broken window; the window is broken.

    Patterns

    • a broken window
    • be broken

    The broken window let the cold air in.

    My phone is broken and needs repair.

    He walked carefully around the broken glass.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Not kept or honored, as with a promise or rule.

    Grammar: Often found before nouns like promise, vow, or agreement.

    Patterns

    • a broken promise
    • a broken agreement

    She was tired of broken promises.

    The broken treaty led to new conflict.

    A broken vow can hurt a friendship.

  3. adjectivecomparablefigurative

    Deeply upset, hopeless or ruined emotionally or in spirit.

    Grammar: Used for people and relationships: a broken heart, a broken home.

    Patterns

    • a broken heart
    • a broken home

    He was a broken man after the loss.

    They grew up in a broken home.

    She cried over her broken heart.

  4. adjectivebefore a noun

    Interrupted or uneven, not continuous, or spoken with many mistakes in a language.

    Grammar: Appears before nouns like sleep, line or English.

    Patterns

    • broken English
    • broken sleep

    He spoke in broken English but we understood him.

    Broken sleep left her exhausted.

    A broken line marked the road edge.

Common combinations

broken promise
Another broken promise cost him her trust.
broken heart
She nursed a broken heart for months.
broken home
Many children from a broken home do well later.
broken record
I sound like a broken record, but please be careful.
broken English
The guide explained the route in broken English.

Synonyms and how they differ

damaged
Damaged is broader, covering any harm, while broken means split or no longer working.
faulty
Faulty suggests a defect from the start, whereas broken means something that once worked has failed.
shattered
Shattered means broken into many pieces, or emotionally devastated, and is stronger than broken.

Opposites

intactworking

Word family

break verb
to split or damage something
breakage noun
the act or result of breaking
breakable adjective
easy to break
unbroken adjective
whole or continuous

Commonly confused: broken or broke?

broken vs broke

Broke means having no money in informal speech, while broken describes damaged things.

Practice

I can't use the oven because it's ___.

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