adj
broken
BROH-kn
adj
1
Separated into pieces; fractured or shattered.
"She swept up the broken glass from the floor."
"He came home from the game with a broken finger."
2
Not working properly; out of order.
"The washing machine has been broken for a week."
3
Emotionally devastated or defeated.
"He looked broken after losing the final match."
How to Use Broken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn pieces, not working, or emotionally crushed — the past participle of "break" used as an adjective.
Common pairings
broken glass
broken bone
broken promise
broken heart
Word Forms
more broken comparative, most broken superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “broken”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She swept up the _____ glass from the floor.
Etymology
From Old English brocen, the past participle of the verb "to break," inherited from a common Germanic root.