[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/knackered/)

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# knackered

adjective (knackered — slang, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ); verb form (past of knacker)

«knackered» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (slang, UK) Knackered means extremely tired, worn out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#m1)
2. (slang, UK) Knackered means broken or too old and worn to work properly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#m2)

### In the lessons

Very common in casual British, Irish, Australian and NZ speech, like «shattered» or «exhausted». In stories with real dialogue it shows a tired character or a broken thing. In exam writing it is too informal. Phrases: absolutely knackered, completely knackered, I'm knackered.

### Examples

- (slang) I'm knackered after that cross-country run. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#x1)
- (slang) Mum was knackered after her night shift. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#x2)
- (slang) My bike is knackered — the chain keeps falling off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#x3)
- We were all knackered by the end of the camping trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#x4)
- (slang) This old phone is completely knackered. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#x5)
- «You look knackered,» said Gran. «Go to bed.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/#x6)

### Note

Informal slang, mildly rude to some older people, but common and not a swear word. Not usual in American English (Americans say «beat», «wiped out» or «exhausted»). Formal equivalents: exhausted, worn out, broken.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «knackered» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«knackered» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/knackered.html) on Mova free.