knackered

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparableBritishinformalslang

   Extremely tired, with no energy left.

   Grammar: Used after be or feel: I am knackered.

   Patterns

   • be knackered
   • feel knackered
   • absolutely knackered

   I was knackered after the long hike.

   We all felt knackered by the end of the week.

   She came home absolutely knackered.

2. 2adjectivecomparableBritishinformalslang

   Broken or no longer working, as a machine or part of the body might be.

   Grammar: Used after be: the washing machine is knackered.

   Patterns

   • be knackered
   • knackered old car

   My old laptop is completely knackered.

   The car's engine is knackered.

   His knees are knackered after years of football.

Word forms

Common combinations

absolutely knackered

After the night shift, she was absolutely knackered.

feel knackered

I always feel knackered on Mondays.

totally knackered

The kids were totally knackered after the party.

knackered old

He drives a knackered old van.

get knackered

You get knackered carrying those boxes.

Synonyms and how they differ

exhausted

Exhausted is the standard word and works in any setting, while knackered is casual British slang.

worn out

Worn out is friendly and informal but not slang, and is understood everywhere.

shattered

Shattered is another British informal term for extreme tiredness.

beat

Beat is an American informal word for very tired.

Opposites

Word family

knacker verb

to exhaust someone or damage something

knackering adjective

extremely tiring

knacker's yard noun

a place where old horses are slaughtered

Commonly confused: knackered or knack?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “knackered”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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