English Reference

Word

cracked

US/ˈkɹækt/

UK/kɹˈækt/

Definitions

01damaged with lines

B1 · Intermediate

adj. having thin lines on the surface because of damage, but not completely broken into pieces.

adj. exhibiting narrow fissures or surface breaks without total structural failure.

“I need to get my phone screen fixed because it is badly cracked.”

“The archaeologist carefully brushed the dirt away from the cracked surface of the ancient vase, hoping the structural damage was only superficial.”

02highly skilled

C1 · Advanced Sports Slang · Informal

adj. extremely good at something, especially playing video games.

adj. demonstrating exceptional skill or mechanical precision, particularly within the context of competitive gaming.

“That player is absolutely cracked; he hasn't missed a single shot all game.”

“The community considers the new rookie cracked after he managed to outplay three professional veterans during the final round of the tournament.”

Teaching tip

This is very common in Gen Z and gaming culture; it is a high compliment for skill, not a negative term.

Synonyms

insanegod-tierskilled

Antonyms

03crazy

C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang

adj. acting in a strange or crazy way.

adj. mentally unstable or eccentric. Often used in the phrase 'cracked-up'.

“You must be cracked if you think you can jump over that wide river.”

“The old man lived in a house full of clocks and had some rather cracked ideas about how time actually worked.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04harsh sound

C2 · Proficiency Music Literary

adj. sounding rough or broken, like a voice that is losing its strength.

adj. characterised by a harsh, dissonant, or broken quality, typically referring to a person's voice or a musical note.

“He tried to sing the high note, but his cracked voice made it sound terrible.”

“The singer's cracked delivery added a layer of raw emotion to the performance, though it was technically imperfect.”

Synonyms

harshhoarsedissonant

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“Last year, the rookie comic cracked a joke on stage about Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa.”
The Guardian 15 Aug 2026
“I saw some walls were cracked,” he added.”
The Guardian 14 Aug 2026

Etymology

See crack. The origin of the slang sense “skilled (at a game)” is disputed, but may derive from the much older term crack shot (“one who is skilled at shooting”). Compare cracking, crackerjack.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Frequent
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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English Reference