26984 words

broken

16 definitions • 26 examples
1
past participle of break
2
damaged, no longer able to work:

Examples:

He attacked the man with a broken bottle.
My watch is broken.
broken glass Careful - there's broken glass on the floor.
3
suffering emotional pain that is so strong that it changes the way you live, usually as a result of an unpleasant event:

Examples:

broken man He was a broken man after his wife died.
After everything that's happened this year, I just feel broken.
4

Examples:

broken English He tried to explain what had happened in broken English.
5

Examples:

a broken engagement
They are materially prosperous but suffer from depression, work stress and broken relationships.
When children are forced to move schools, education is interrupted and friendships are broken.
6
(of a law, rule, or promise) not obeyed or not kept:

Examples:

a broken promise
7
(of a horse) trained to be tame (= not wild or frightened of people, and safe around them) so that it can be ridden or used to pull a vehicle:

Examples:

Today, we usually talk about horses being "gentled", not broken.
He stood quietly, like a broken horse waiting to be saddled and bridled.
It was a young colt, not yet broken in for riding.
8
past participle of break
9
damaged, or no longer able to work:

Examples:

My camera is broken.
10

Examples:

a broken line
He spoke very broken English.
11

Examples:

After his wife's death, he seemed to be a broken man.
My mom said my uncle had a broken heart (= was sad because a romance had ended).
12

Examples:

He overcame a string of broken dreams to become a success.
She comes from a broken home (= the parents no longer live together).
13
(of a law, rule, or promise) disobeyed or not kept:

Examples:

a broken promise
14
damaged, and no longer able to work:

Examples:

We can send the broken monitors for repair.
Everywhere you look there are broken pipes and crumbling masonry.
15

Examples:

On the chart, income is indicated by a solid line and expenses by a broken line.
16
used to describe a law, rule, or promise that is not obeyed or not kept:

Examples:

a broken promise
a broken contract

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