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broken

adj. · v.
US //ˈbɹoʊkən// UK //bɹˈəʊkən// bro·ken
  1. 1 damaged or in pieces (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    damaged and no longer in one piece.

    physically separated into fragments or having a fractured structure.

    Example

    He tried to glue the broken pieces of the vase back together.

    Example

    The floor was littered with broken glass after the window shattered during the storm.
  2. 2 not working (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    not functioning correctly, like a machine or a tool.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The technician explained that the server was broken beyond repair and would need a total replacement.
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  1. 3 not kept (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The lawsuit was based on a series of broken agreements regarding the distribution of the company's profits.
  2. 4 sad and defeated (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    feeling very sad and having no hope left.

    crushed in spirit; completely defeated or dispirited.

    Example

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

    Example

    The long years of isolation left her feeling broken and unable to reconnect with her former colleagues.
  3. 5 overly powerful (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal Sport

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

    Teacher's tip

    Common in gaming communities; learners should use 'overpowered' in more formal discussions about balance.
  4. 6 past participle of break (v.)
    A2 Elementary

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

    the past participle of the irregular verb 'break'.

    Example

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

    Example

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

    Usage

    Used to form the present perfect and past perfect tenses, as well as the passive voice.

Origin

From Middle English broken, from Old English brocen, ġebrocen, from Proto-Germanic brukanaz, past participle of Proto-Germanic brekaną (“to break”). Cognate with Dutch gebroken (“broken”), German Low German broken (“broken”), German gebrochen (“broken”). Morphologically broke + -n.

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