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broken-down

broken-down

24 4.4
In very poor condition and not working because of age or neglect
  • adjective
  • /ˈbroʊkən daʊn/
translation icon : deteriorado
  • A snow-covered truck in the middle of the road, broken down and abandoned, is on top of us.
  • a broken-down car

So I found a shop, very old broken down shop in Rose Hill.

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Examples

  • I have to go in a very, very cheap, broken-down car now because of the thieves.

    Academic text (2006)
  • I'm just a broken-down old man.

  • So I found a shop, very old broken down shop in Rose Hill.

  • And it kind of looks as broken down as I guess I could expect it.

  • No one would ever know this was once an old broken down bus.

  • I find her in a small red car broken down in the center of all those lanes.

  • The pirate radio station, hidden round the back of a broken down car.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Then they went to Lawrence County, Ohio, and they set up shop in a, in a broken down former bar.

  • I bought myself some old clothes and a broken-down car and took route 66 myself.

  • The old broken-down truck sat abandoned on the roadside, a relic of better days.

Synonyms

beat-up
vsbroken-down
41 5.2

Damaged and worn from rough use over a long time

is the wider term focusing on age or neglect across many items
broken
vsbroken-down
31 1.0

Damaged or not whole and not working

is more about poor condition from age or neglect rather than just breakage
beaten-up
vsbroken-down
23 4.7

Damaged and worn from being hit or used a lot

is broader, covering general poor condition not only physical damage
worn-out
vsbroken-down
20 3.1

An object too old or damaged from heavy use to be useful

adds that the item may be not working especially from age or neglect
dilapidated
vsbroken-down
18 6.2

A building that is very old and badly damaged because no one fixed it

is the similar general term used for many damaged items
run-down
vsbroken-down
15 4.5

A building or place that is in poor condition because people do not look after it

includes that meaning but also covers nonstructural items like machines
derelict
vsbroken-down
14 7.5

A place or building that is abandoned and in very bad condition from lack of use

can describe similar neglect but also nonabandoned items like old machines
ramshackle
vsbroken-down
10 7.5

Old and in very bad condition, like a house about to fall down

is broader, applying to any very poor condition or nonworking items
decrepit
vsbroken-down
9 6.6

A building or vehicle that is very old and in poor condition from lack of care

is broader, applying to machines, vehicles, buildings, or other things
busted
vsbroken-down
  • Informal
2 7.2

Not working because it is broken

is more formal and focuses on age or neglect causing poor condition
tumble-down
vsbroken-down
1 6.7

An old building in very bad condition because no one repaired it

is used for the same range of items but more general
clapped out
vsbroken-down
  • UK
1 8.6

Very tired or worn and not able to work well

is formal enough to describe the same poor condition across items
tumbledown
vsbroken-down
5.6

A building that is old, not cared for, and falling apart

is the wider phrase used for many aged or neglected items
crumbling
vsbroken-down
3.4

A thing that breaks into small pieces and falls apart because of age or lack of care

covers that decay but also nonbreaking failure or nonworking states
crocky
vsbroken-down
  • UK
9.6

Old and in bad condition, it often stops working

is broader, describing both unreliability and general poor physical condition
battered
vsbroken-down
3.7

An object that is damaged and has many marks from rough use

is similar but stresses age or neglect rather than rough treatment

Antonyms

102 4.1

Working and ready to use, for example machines or systems

81 3.2

Working correctly so it can be used

7 1.8

Neat and in good condition because someone looks after it

How Functional

working
1.0
worn
4 2.1
broken-down
24 4.4
derelict
14 7.5
ruined
1 3.1

Surface Forms

broken-down positive

Morphology

broken-down = broken (transparent) = down + broken

The compound's meaning is directly built from 'broken' (not working/damaged) + 'down' (in a state), yielding a clear sense of being in very poor condition or nonfunctional. [Postprocessing: moved 'down' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word broken-down comes from the verb break ('to damage') and down ('low' or 'completely'). So it pictures something damaged and brought low, which is why we use it for old, not working cars, machines, or buildings.