Busted
/ˈbʌstɪd/
adjectiveverbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
Busted is used to say that something is broken or damaged and does not work properly. It is also used to say a person was caught doing something wrong or illegal. It can mean being in trouble because of that.
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⚡ See It in Action
Broken or damaged (not working)
- •My phone is busted; the screen is cracked.
- •The car broke down because the engine is busted.
- •The TV is busted and won’t turn on.
Caught doing something wrong or illegal
- •He got busted for cheating on the exam.
- •The thief was busted by the police last night.
- •She was busted for lying to her parents.
In trouble because of being caught or damaged
- •I’m busted! My parents found out I stayed out late.
- •The company got busted for breaking safety rules.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "busted" like "broken" (A1 word), but also like "caught" when someone is doing something bad
- ✓Picture a toy that no longer moves or a person surprised when caught cheating on a test
- ✓It's the feeling of being caught red-handed or having something stop working suddenly
- ✓Sounds like "bust-ed" → imagine a balloon that suddenly pops ("busts") and is no longer whole
- ✓Think of a police officer saying "You're busted!" when they catch someone doing something wrong
- ✓NOT like "broken" alone (which only means not working), "busted" can also mean caught or in trouble
- ✓NOT like "caught" alone (which means discovered), "busted" often implies trouble or damage too
- ✓NOT like "fixed" (working again), "busted" means the opposite — damaged or in trouble
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Broken: not working or damaged (Use when only talking about things that don’t work)
- •Caught: discovered doing something wrong (Use when focusing on being found out)
- •Arrested: taken by police for a crime (Use in formal or serious legal situations)
- •Damaged: physically harmed or hurt (Use when talking about physical harm, not people)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "bust" (root) + "-ed" (past tense suffix meaning action happened before)
- •Etymology: "Bust" comes from old English and slang meaning to break or smash
- •Historical development: Originally meant to break something physically; later also used for catching someone doing wrong
- •Modern usage: Used informally to describe broken objects or people caught in trouble
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Have you ever had something important get busted? How did it affect you?
•Why do you think people use the same word for broken things and getting caught doing wrong?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The bike was ___ after hitting the wall, so it couldn’t be used anymore.
2.She got ___ by the teacher for copying homework from her friend.
3.When the police arrived, the thief was already ___ and could not escape.
4.My laptop is ___; it won’t turn on no matter what I try.
5.He felt ___ because everyone knew he lied about his age.
6.The old radio is ___ and makes strange noises when turned on.
7.They got ___ for breaking the rules during the competition.