busted
busted Lexical Profile
busted Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Caught in the act of doing something wrong, forbidden, or illegal; arrested by the police (slang).
"The teenagers knew they were busted as soon as the principal walked into the hallway."
Broken, damaged, or in poor working order (informal).
"We had to take the stairs because the elevator was busted."
Having lost all of one's money; bankrupt or financially ruined (informal).
"After a series of bad investments, the company went completely busted."
American Physically unattractive, worn-out, or dilapidated in appearance (slang).
"He showed up to the meeting wearing a pair of old, busted shoes."
• interjection
Used to playfully or triumphantly announce that someone has been caught in the act of wrongdoing or deception (slang).
"Busted! I saw you taking the last cookie from the jar."
• Rhymes for busted
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived as the past participle of 'bust', an 18th-century colloquial American English alteration of 'burst'.