ENGLISH
REFERENCE

burned

v.
A2 Elementary US //ˈbɝnd// UK //bˈɜːnd// burned

v. to be hurt or damaged by fire or something very hot. You can also use it when you cook food for too long.

v. to undergo combustion or be damaged by heat, fire, or chemicals. Often used in the past tense or as a past participle to describe the result of thermal damage.


SIMPLE

I burned the toast this morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef accidentally burned his hand on the hot stove while preparing the dinner rush.

COMPLEX

The ancient library was burned during the invasion, resulting in the irreparable loss of thousands of unique historical manuscripts.

Synonyms
Usage

Can be used transitively or intransitively. In British English, 'burnt' is often preferred as the past tense and past participle, while 'burned' is standard in American English.

Pitfall

I am burn my fingerI burned my fingerLearners often forget to use the past tense form when describing a completed injury or accident.

© 2026 English Reference