busted
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
caught by someone while you are doing something you should not be doing.
apprehended or discovered while committing a transgression or crime.
Simple“He was totally busted when his teacher saw him using his phone during the test.”
In context“The teenagers were busted by the security guard while trying to sneak into the abandoned warehouse after midnight.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
broken, damaged, or not working correctly.
rendered inoperable due to mechanical failure or physical damage.
Simple“I can't call you because my screen is busted and I can't see anything.”
In context“The old washing machine is completely busted, so we will have to wash our clothes by hand until the new one arrives.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
very ugly or looking very bad.
highly unattractive or aesthetically unpleasing; often used to describe a person's appearance or a poorly made object.
Simple“That old car looks busted with all that rust and the missing door.”
In context“The critics described the new building's design as busted, claiming it clashed horribly with the historic architecture of the street.”
Antonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
having no money left; broke.
lacking financial resources; synonymous with 'broke' in informal contexts.
Simple“I'm totally busted until payday, so I can't go out for dinner tonight.”
In context“After paying his tuition and rent, he found himself completely busted and unable to afford even basic groceries.”
See bust (Etymology 2)
From bust + -ed. See bust (Etymology 1).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.