# busted

/ˈbəstɪd/ (US) · /bˈʌstɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/busted
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. caught doing something wrong

adjective · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

caught by someone while you are doing something you should not be doing.

For teachers: apprehended or discovered while committing a transgression or crime.

- He was totally busted when his teacher saw him using his phone during the test.
- The teenagers were busted by the security guard while trying to sneak into the abandoned warehouse after midnight.

### 2. broken or damaged

adjective · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

broken, damaged, or not working correctly.

For teachers: rendered inoperable due to mechanical failure or physical damage.

- I can't call you because my screen is busted and I can't see anything.
- The old washing machine is completely busted, so we will have to wash our clothes by hand until the new one arrives.

### 3. ugly or unattractive

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

very ugly or looking very bad.

For teachers: highly unattractive or aesthetically unpleasing; often used to describe a person's appearance or a poorly made object.

- That old car looks busted with all that rust and the missing door.
- The critics described the new building's design as busted, claiming it clashed horribly with the historic architecture of the street.

### 4. having no money

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal · American English

having no money left; broke.

For teachers: lacking financial resources; synonymous with 'broke' in informal contexts.

- I'm totally busted until payday, so I can't go out for dinner tonight.
- After paying his tuition and rent, he found himself completely busted and unable to afford even basic groceries.

## Examples

- He got busted for cheating on the test.
- The party was going great until the police arrived and everyone got busted for the noise.
- The old generator is completely busted, and since the manufacturer went bankrupt years ago, finding the specific replacement parts has proven nearly impossible.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.