broken

A2 · Elementary

adj. not functioning correctly, like a machine or a tool.

adj. not functioning properly; out of order due to mechanical or electronic failure.

“The elevator is broken, so we will have to take the stairs.”

“The technician explained that the server was broken beyond repair and would need a total replacement.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. used to describe a promise or a rule that was not followed.

adj. violated or not observed; typically used of promises, laws, or contracts.

“A broken promise can make it very hard to trust someone again.”

“The lawsuit was based on a series of broken agreements regarding the distribution of the company's profits.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. feeling very sad and having no hope left.

adj. crushed in spirit; completely defeated or dispirited.

“He was a broken man after losing his job and his home in the same week.”

“The long years of isolation left her feeling broken and unable to reconnect with her former colleagues.”

C1 · Advanced Sports Slang · Informal

adj. used in games to describe something that is too strong and unfair.

adj. describing a game mechanic or character that is excessively powerful, disrupting the balance of play.

“The new character in the game is totally broken and needs to be changed.”

“Competitive players complained that the latest patch introduced a broken weapon that made defensive strategies impossible.”

A2 · Elementary

v. the form of 'break' used with 'have' or 'be'.

v. the past participle of the irregular verb 'break'.

“I have broken my glasses and I cannot see the screen.”

“By the time the police arrived, the thieves had already broken into the vault and escaped through the back exit.”