Word
contracted
Phoneticscon·tract·ed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑntɹæktəd/
UK/kəntɹˈæktɪd/
Definitions
01caught an illness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Formal
v. to have caught a disease or illness.
v. to have become infected with a disease or medical condition. Transitive — requires the name of the illness as a direct object.
“He contracted a rare fever while traveling through the tropical jungle.”
“The patient reportedly contracted the virus during a period of high community transmission, despite having no known direct contact with infected individuals.”
02became smaller
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science
v. became shorter, tighter, or smaller in size.
v. underwent a reduction in size, extent, or volume. Intransitive in this sense.
“The metal cooled and contracted slightly as the temperature dropped.”
“As the muscle fibers contracted, the limb moved upward in a smooth, controlled motion that demonstrated the athlete's recovery.”
03agreed by legal document
C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical
adj. agreed upon in a formal or legal way.
adj. established or settled by a formal contract or legal agreement.
“The company failed to provide the contracted services on time.”
“The dispute arose when the developer attempted to alter the contracted specifications without seeking prior approval from the municipal planning board.”
Synonyms
04shortened word forms
B2 · Upper Intermediate Technical
adj. shortened by leaving out letters, like 'don't' instead of 'do not'.
adj. referring to a word or phrase that has been shortened by the omission of internal letters. Used primarily in linguistics.
“In casual speech, people often use contracted forms like 'I'm' or 'we'll'.”
“The professor noted that while contracted forms are standard in spoken English, they should be avoided in highly formal academic dissertations.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Before then, around 18,000 children every year contracted the virus before their 10th birthday .” “This is the first time NASA has contracted with a commercial company to service one of its satellites.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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