broken
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
How often you will meet it
Rank 648 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 29,537 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.014% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split a broken mirrora broken tooth
- not continuous in space, time, or sequence or varying abruptly broken lines of defensea broken cable transmission
- subdued or brought low in condition or status also: crushed, humbled, humiliated, low brought lowa broken man
- (especially of promises or contracts) having been violated or disregarded also: unkept broken (or unkept) promisesbroken contracts
- tamed or trained to obey also: broken in a horse broken to the saddlethis old nag is well broken in
- topographically very uneven also: rugged broken terrainrugged ground
broken in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The rule of the Order is indeed against it, but the rule is constantly broken.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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All these events, which succeeded each other so rapidly, had broken the feeble springs of her soul.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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These broken sentences were repeated more than once, and then she stood silent as though in a dream still.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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The ice was broken into thousands of confused shapes, but none, Hans thought like the ordinary forms of splintered ice.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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As soon as they entered the temples of sacrifice the idols were overthrown with a breath, and were broken to pieces.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 1