# burnt

/ˈbɝnt/ (US) · /bˈɜːnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/burnt
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. damaged by heat

adjective · CEFR B1

damaged or destroyed by fire or extreme heat.

For teachers: damaged, injured, or destroyed by exposure to fire or high temperatures.

- The toast was completely burnt and tasted like charcoal.
- The investigators examined the burnt remains of the warehouse, searching for any evidence that might indicate the fire's origin.

### 2. sunburned

adjective · CEFR B1

having skin that is red and painful from too much sun.

For teachers: suffering from erythema caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.

- My shoulders are very burnt after spending all day at the beach.
- Despite applying a high-factor sunscreen, the hikers found their necks severely burnt after several hours on the exposed ridge.

### 3. past tense of burn

verb · CEFR B1 · British English

the past tense of 'burn', used when something was on fire or used for fuel.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'burn'. This spelling is the standard form in British English, whereas 'burned' is more common in American English.

- He burnt the old letters in the fireplace last night.
- The candles had burnt down to the sockets by the time the guests finally departed the dining hall.

Usage: Used as both the simple past and the past participle.

### 4. charred material

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

the black, dry material left after something has been on fire.

For teachers: carbonised material or char resulting from incomplete combustion.

- The bottom of the pan was covered in black burnt that wouldn't come off.
- The surface was coated in a thick layer of burnt, making it difficult for the archaeologists to identify the original timber underneath.

## Examples

- The toast is burnt and tastes like charcoal.
- He forgot to wear sunscreen at the beach and ended up with a badly burnt back.
- The smell of burnt rubber hung heavy in the air long after the race cars had cleared the final corner of the track.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.