Broken Down

B1 8+

Pronunciation: /ˈbroʊkən daʊn/

Definitions of broken down

verb action of dismantling or causing something to no longer function properly

Example Sentences

A1 The car broke down on the side of the road.

A2 I broke down in tears when I heard the news.

B1 The machine broke down due to a technical error.

B2 The negotiations broke down after hours of discussion.

C1 The relationship broke down irreparably after years of conflict.

C2 The company's communication system broke down, causing chaos in the office.

adjective describes the state of something that is no longer functioning properly or has been dismantled

Example Sentences

A1 The old car was broken down and couldn't be driven anymore.

A2 The broken down computer needed to be repaired before it could be used again.

B1 The broken down washing machine was beyond repair and needed to be replaced.

B2 The broken down elevator caused delays in the building's operations.

C1 The broken down communication system was a major setback for the company's operations.

C2 The broken down infrastructure in the city led to widespread disruptions in services.

Examples of broken down in a Sentence

formal The car broke down on the highway due to a broken down engine.

informal My computer is broken down and I need to get it fixed.

slang I can't believe my plans for the weekend are all broken down now.

figurative After the argument, their relationship was completely broken down.

Grammatical Forms of broken down

past tense

broken down

plural

broken downs

comparative

more broken down

superlative

most broken down

present tense

break down

future tense

will break down

perfect tense

have broken down

continuous tense

is breaking down

singular

broken down

positive degree

broken down

infinitive

to break down

gerund

breaking down

participle

broken down

Origin and Evolution of broken down

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The term 'broken down' originated from Middle English, where 'broken' meant to damage or destroy, and 'down' meant to a lower position or level.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'broken down' has evolved to also mean worn out or in a state of disrepair, in addition to its original meaning of being damaged or destroyed.