English Reference
adjective

shattered

adj.
US /ˈʃætɝd/ UK /ʃˈætəd/ shat·tered

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    broken into many small, sharp pieces.

    physically broken or smashed into numerous small fragments.

    Simple

    The floor was covered in shattered glass after the window broke.

    In context

    The forensic team carefully collected the shattered remnants of the vase, hoping to reconstruct the original pattern for identification.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate British EnglishInformal

    feeling completely exhausted or very tired.

    experiencing extreme physical or mental exhaustion. Often used in informal British contexts.

    Simple

    I was absolutely shattered after working a twelve-hour shift.

    In context

    By the time they reached the summit after ten hours of climbing, the entire team was completely shattered and unable to continue.

    Usage

    Commonly modified by intensifiers like 'absolutely' or 'completely'.

    exhausteddrainedknackered
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    feeling very upset, shocked, or without hope.

    profoundly distressed, shocked, or emotionally devastated by a negative event.

    Simple

    She was shattered by the news that she didn't get the job.

    In context

    The community was left shattered by the sudden closure of the factory, which had been the town's primary employer for decades.

    joyfulunmoved

He was on the sixth and top floor of his apartment building in Cali when the windows shattered and, looking outside, he saw nearby structures starting to collapse.

UN News· 13 Aug 2026

Only a sudden bump in the road shattered the monotony of the journey on that autumn day in 1942.

Smithsonian Magazine· 22 Jul 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated