Words / B1

NAK-uh-d/ˈnækəd/

Knackered means extremely tired, or (of a machine) worn out and useless (UK informal). Exhausted is the neutral pair for people; broken fits machines. Collocation: I am knackered; the washing machine is knackered. Quite informal — avoid in polite emails.

Meaning

Extremely tired; also broken and no longer working (UK informal).

Examples

• “I am knackered after standing up on the bus all the way home.”
• “After the night shift she was completely knackered.”
• “This old printer is knackered; we need a new one.”

Good to know

knackered (UK informal). People: exhausted. Machines: worn out / broken. Avoid in formal writing.

Near in meaning

exhausted

New